Health officials in Vietnam's Khanh Hoa province have confirmed a 21-year-old university student with H5 avian flu infection. Another case is a 37-year-old man from Tien Giang province in the southern part of the country. An investigation revealed that the man lived adjacent to a poultry market, but there were no reports of sick or dead birds near the family's home. Read more
Advice for travellers
While bird flu is often fatal in humans, there has been no sustained person-to-person transmission. Infection occurs after contact with the saliva, mucous or faeces of infected birds or surfaces contaminated with them, which makes the disease a low risk for most travellers. Australians travelling to a region where the disease is present or an outbreak is occurring should avoid contact with birds or poultry in marketplaces, wash their hands 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.