Travelling
to Asian destinations
The reason for seemingly worldwide governmental
panic is that until 1997 avian flu was believed to only infect
birds, however in 1997 it was discovered that the virus can
occasionally infect people who have been in close contact
with live birds in markets or farms.
This rare ability of
avian flu viruses to infect humans (known as "species
jumping") throws up a worrying possibility.
It is possible that a highly pathogenic avian flu virus could
merge with a human flu virus and create a new virus that could
be easily passed between humans and was rapidly fatal. If this
happens, the result could be the next flu pandemic.
The UK Department
of Health (DoH) advises:
"Although there is no restriction on
travel to any of the areas where avian flu is being reported,
travellers are advised to take sensible precautions such
as avoiding bird markets, farm or contact with live poultry."
The US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) advises:
"At this time CDC and WHO [the World
Health Organisation] have not issued any travel alerts or
advisories for the region in response to the H5N1 [avian
flu virus] outbreak. However, travellers to countries in
Asia with documented H5N1 outbreaks are advised to avoid
poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets
and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with faeces
from poultry or other animals."
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