Eighteen months after the last notification of an H5N1 avian influenza infection in humans (in Nepal), details have emerged of one new case in the southern province of Saravane. Taiwan’s CDC reported the case, along with a new H9N2 infection in a young girl from China’s Guangdong province (Zhuhai City) – this is Mainland China’s 38th since 2013. In both cases, there was ‘a history of poultry exposure or live poultry near their homes before the onset’. Read more
Advice for travellers
There are several strains of bird flu and while the virus can be fatal, infection generally poses a low risk for travellers – even for those heading to a region where the disease is present or an outbreak is occurring. Travellers should avoid contact with birds or poultry in marketplaces, wash hands thoroughly before and after preparing food, and observe strict personal hygiene. Read more on bird flu and how to avoid it.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.