smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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Since November 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed human cases or deaths from avian influenza in Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia (including Bali), Iraq, Laos, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.
The Department of Health and Ageing (DOHA) is maintaining a list of frequently asked questions on avian influenza for Australians.
The World Health Organization is working to support national disease authorities in the affected countries to investigate the outbreaks. The WHO has not advised against travel to any of the affected countries.
The DOHA advises Australians who reside in an avian influenza affected area for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine. Long-term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. Medical advice should be sought before antiviral medicines are commenced.
DOHA advises that Australians intending to travel to avian influenza affected areas for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection, but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks.
Australians should familiarise themselves with the advice regarding personal protective and infection-control measures provided on DOHA's Pandemic Influenza website, including the "Prepared and Protected" video.
Individual Australians and Australian businesses overseas are responsible for securing their own supply of influenza antiviral medicine (such as Tamiflu or Relenza), if required. Australian missions and offices overseas will not be in a position to provide influenza antiviral medicines to Australians in affected areas.
Should a sustained human-to-human outbreak occur, Australians should be aware that the delivery of consular assistance to Australians could be severely constrained by local health conditions and restrictions on travel. Australian travellers, long-term residents and businesses overseas should be prepared in these circumstances to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being and should monitor this bulletin and the relevant country travel advice for updated information and advice.
If the threat of sustained human-to-human transmission appears serious, we will advise Australians in affected countries to consider leaving and Australians planning travel to affected countries to reconsider their need to travel. At the same time, the Australian Government would likely direct staff not providing emergency services and all dependants of staff in those countries to leave. As a precautionary measure in case they need to depart at short notice, Australians should ensure that their travel documents are up-to-date, including passports and visas for any non-Australian family members. Australians who return to Australia from any areas affected by human-to-human transmission may be subject to quarantine measures at Australian borders.
If the virus mutates to a form where efficient human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australians who don't leave affected countries when first advised to do so may be prevented from leaving later. Borders may be closed, commercial air services may be curtailed or halted and quarantine requirements may further restrict options for leaving. Australians need to consider in advance how they can care for themselves and put appropriate contingency plans in place.
The Australian Government has decided as a precautionary measure to hold a limited supply of the influenza antiviral medicine oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and protective face masks at most of its overseas missions. The antivirals would primarily be used to protect emergency staff providing consular and other essential services in the event of a widespread outbreak of avian influenza amongst humans. These medicines are not currently being taken by staff and will only be taken on medical advice.
This is a prudent measure to ensure that Australian officials overseas will be able to maintain essential services to Australians if a human outbreak does occur. The limited influenza antiviral medicine supplies held at these missions and offices is not intended and does not allow for provision to other Australians who may be in an affected area.
People are at risk of contracting avian influenza if they have close contact with infected birds, their faeces or body fluids. The virus does not spread easily from birds to people. There is a very low risk of contracting the disease from occasional contact with an infected bird such as when travelling on public transport.
Australians travelling to areas affected by avian influenza can reduce their risk of infection by:
- avoiding situations where they may come into contact with farms and live bird markets;
- ensuring all uncooked poultry and eggs are handled hygienically with careful attention to hand washing after handling
- ensuring all poultry and eggs are cooked thoroughly before consumption (proper cooking destroys the virus in poultry and eggs); and
- washing hands thoroughly after contact with infected or potentially infected birds, their faeces or body fluids.
In affected areas, you should avoid contact with cats and their body fluids and faeces as there is some evidence that these animals can be infected with avian influenza.
For a list of countries in which outbreaks of avian influenza amongst birds have been reported, see the website of the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Information about how the virus spreads from birds to humans, including frequently asked questions about avian influenza, is available from the Department of Health and Ageing's website or by phoning the department's Public Health Information Line on 1800 004 599 between 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in conjunction with the Department of Health and Ageing will continue to monitor avian influenza closely including for any implications for overseas travel.
You can also visit the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention website.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
