Travel advice

I've just come back from a country where highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed and have flu-like symptoms - could this be bird flu?

Next week I'm going to a country where HPAIH5N1 has been confirmed, should I cancel?

Will the annual flu vaccination protect me against avian influenza?

Should I be immunised before I travel to these countries?

 

 

 

What if I develop an illness and I have been in contact with someone who has returned from an affected country?

This is almost certainly not avian influenza, because at present the virus hardly spreads from person-to-person.

 

I've just come back from a country where HPAI H5N1 has been confirmed and have flu-like symptoms - could this be bird flu?

It is unlikely to be a case of HPAI H5N1 unless you have been in contact with or within 1 metre of birds in the affected area. It is much more likely that normal human influenza will be responsible because normal influenza circulates in these parts of the world each winter season. If you develop a respiratory illness which you consider is severe enough to warrant treatment, you have visited a country on the list of countries affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza, and you have had contact with live, ill, dying, dead poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys) or wild birds (or places that house them) in one of these countries in the seven days prior to onset of illness, you should contact NHS Direct or your general practitioner and explain your travel history carefully. Your GP will obtain further advice if necessary.

A list of countries affected is available on the HPA website through Algorithm 3.

 

Next week I'm going to a country where HPAI H5N1 has been confirmed, should I cancel?

No, you should not cancel your trip. You should be more vigilant while travelling in the affected regions should adhere to the following advice given by NaTHNaC:

A list of countries affected by HPAI H5N1 is available on the HPA website

Latest travel advice is posted on the Department of Health and NaTHNaC websites. If the number of human cases associated with the current outbreaks of avian influenza remains low then advice is unlikely to change.

 

Will the annual flu vaccination protect me against avian influenza?

The usual annual flu vaccination will not provide any protection against avian flu. A new vaccine would need to be produced for this new strain of flu.

 

Should I be immunised before I travel to these countries?

Immunisation with the influenza vaccine recommended for the current winter (2007-2008) will offer no protection against infection with avian influenza. There is no need to seek immunisation before ordinary travel to affected countries.

Last reviewed: 31 December 2008