Wednesday 5th November – Travel Doctor
Dear Travel Doctor,
I’ve heard a lot about bird flu lately. Is it a risk? What should I be aware of when booking a trip abroad?
- David, Buckinghamshire
Hi David,
Good question. Bird flu (or Avian Influenza) has been in the news a fair bit recently. It sounds pretty scary, but if you take the right precautions, you’ll be fine.
Bird flu is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect birds and sometimes pigs. All species of bird can be affected, but mainly domestic poultry. It’s the H5NL strain that can jump from birds to humans, and can cause serious illness.
It’s very rare that people catch bird flu, though. Unless you have close contact with infected birds and their droppings (i.e. at markets or farms) you won’t be at risk. If a human does become infected, the virus will develop between three and five days after contamination. Symptoms are similar to normal flu – fever, cough, aches. If you suspect that you have been infected, seek medical help immediately.
The bad news is that there are currently no vaccines against the H5N1 strain, but the World Health Organisation is currently working on a potential inoculation.
As for planning your trip to avoid infectious zones, you should be aware that the following countries have been affected: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, UK, Ukraine and Vietnam.
However, there’s no need to rule out these destinations. A few simple measures can dramatically decrease your risk of catching bird flu. Simply, avoid contact with chickens – dead or alive. This is the safest way to protect yourself. Wash your hands regularly, and be sensible. In the unlikely scenario that you develop symptoms, get yourself to a doctor as soon as you can.
But remember that bird flu is very rarely caught by humans, so don’t let it put you off travelling!
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