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Avian & Pandemic Flu
Avian Flu and International Travel
Even in countries where large numbers of cases have occurred in birds, there is at present no reason to change or cancel travel plans. Clearly this must be kept under review and resources for obtaining the latest advice from the key health authorities are listed on our links page.
Sensible precautions for all travellers include:
• Avoiding contact It would seem sensible to minimise the risk of contact with birds and poultry that might be infected; one practical way of avoiding this is to avoid “wet markets” in Asia – large food markets where live birds are traded. Many such markets have already been closed and poultry in affected Asian countries are already being culled on a massive scale. Avoid farms and direct contact with birds.
• Improved hand hygiene: careful attention to simple hygiene measures reduce the potential for flu virus transmission. These include possible use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers and rinses.
• Flu vaccination A small degree of cross protection may occur from currently available vaccines; flu vaccine is safe and seems a reasonable and sensible precaution. A number of alerts have been triggered when travellers who have returned from regions affected by H5N1 have returned home with a fever that has turned out to be caused by seasonal flu.
High Risk Travellers
The Fleet Street Clinic specialises in looking after high risk travellers, including many within the news industry whose occupation might make contact with H5N1 more likely. Additional options for such travellers include:
• Standby / preventive antiviral medication At least 2 possible antiviral drug options are known to be effective against influenza viruses. Drugs can be used either on an emergency standby basis in the event of possible symptoms, or to prevent the onset of illness in people who have been in direct contact with cases. The drugs are oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Medicines should be prescribed individually with detailed instructions about when and how to commence medication.
• Physical protection: Personal protective measures, including a range of possible high filtration facemasks, goggles, protective coveralls, boots and/or overshoes may need to be considered for those at high risk. These items require careful training in correct use and must be carefully fitted.
Where can I obtain supplies?
The Fleet Street Clinic offers training and consultancy on such issues and carries a large stock of specialist supplies: please contact us to discuss this further.
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Call our UK Booking Hotline now! Book your Corporate Flu Vaccination programme right away: 020 7353 5678
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