Travel Advice

Before any international travel

(1) It is advisable that you contact your GP if you are unwell before travelling.

(2) Inform yourself on any disease risks in the areas you plan to visit.

(3) Be sure your vaccinations are up to date.

(4) Make sure you take some basic first aid and medical supplies with you like disinfectant solution, bandages, stick, thermometer, alcohol based wipes, paracetamol or a stronger analgesic, medicine against constipation and diarrhoea and fluid replacement sachets.

(5) Before you leave, find out how and where to get medical care in the country where you are travelling.

(6) Check your health insurance plan to ensure it covers for all health emergencies. 

Travel Advice When Travelling To Countries Affected With Avian Virus

There are no special travel restrictions, immunisations or precautions to countries affected by A/H5N1 because of the presence of that virus. Affected countries are:  

Asia

Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the People's republic of China (including Tibet and Hong Kong), Kazakhastan, Mongolia, Korea, Pakistan, Japan, Myanmar and Bangladesh .

Europe

The Russian Federation east of the Ural mountains (Kalmykia Republic, Tyva Republic and regions of Astrkhan, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Tiumen, Altaj, Tula, Tomsk, Omsk, Karabudachkentsky and Novosibirsk), Romania (Danube Area), Azerbaijan (Caspian Sea Region),  Bulgaria (Shabla / Vidin), Croatia (Zdenci), Georgia, England (Suffolk) and Hungary.

Africa

Nigeria (Kano Province), Cameroon, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Djibouti and Sudan.

Middle-East

Iraq (North east corner close to border with Iran and Turkey), Iran, Egypt, Afghanistan and Kuwait  .

During Travel

Travellers are reminded of the following standard precautions to avoid avian Influenza

• To avoid contact with live poultry and wild birds
• To avoid visiting live animal markets and poultry farms
• To avoid contact with surfaces contaminated with animal faeces
• To avoid handling birds found dead
• Not to eat or handle undercooked or raw poultry, egg or duck dishes
• Exercise good hygiene with frequent hand washing
• Do not attempt to bring any live poultry products back to Europe

It is not recommended that travellers take with them the neuraminidase inhibitor, Oseltamivir (TamifluŽ) unless they may be exposed to avian Influenza through their work e.g. veterinarians working to control HPAI.

After your return

(1) Monitor your health for 10 days.

(2) If you become ill with fever and develop a cough or difficulty in breathing, or if you develop any illness during this 10-day period after your return from abroad, consult your doctor.

It is important that you tell your doctor

ˇ        Your symptoms

ˇ        Where you traveled

ˇ        If you had direct contact with poultry or ate poultry or any contact with a known or suspected human case of Influenza A (H5N1) in an avian affected country. This will make your doctor aware that you have traveled to an area reporting avian Influenza.