Swine flu (H1N1 virus) is a continued threat to travelers with HIV and other diseases

June 11, 8:38 PMDC Gay Travel ExaminerTroy Petenbrink

Previous Next

2 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the DC Gay Travel Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

As of today, nearly 30,000 confirmed cases of swine flu, caused by the H1N1 virus, have been reported in 74 countries.  As a result, the World Health Organization has confirmed "the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met."

While WHO is not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are continuing to encouraging individual at higher risk of infection to be cautious.

Like seasonal flu, certain people may be at higher risk of severe illness including persons with certain chronic medical conditions such as HIV and cancer.

If you are planning travel to affected areas, the CDC has issued the following recommendations to help you reduce your risk of infection and stay healthy:

Before your trip

- Monitor the outbreak situation; check updates from these sources:

• State health department website home pages of the affected states
• CDC H1N1 Flu website
• Pan American Health Organization
• World Health Organization Influenza A (H1N1) website

- Prepare for your trip

• Be sure you are up-to-date with all your routine vaccinations, including seasonal influenza vaccine if available.
• Identify the health-care resources in the area(s) you will be visiting.

During your trip

- Monitor the local situation

• Pay attention to announcements from the local government.
• Follow local public health guidelines, including any movement restrictions and
  prevention recommendations.

- Practice healthy habits to help stop the spread of novel H1N1 flu

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. This removes germs from your skin and
  helps prevent diseases from spreading.
  • Use waterless alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60% alcohol) when
    soap is not available and hands are not visibly dirty.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put your
  used tissue in a wastebasket.
• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing, using soap and water or an alcohol-
  based hand gel.
• Follow all local health recommendations. For example, if you are sick, you may be asked to put on a surgical mask to protect others.

- What to do if you feel sick

• It is expected that most people will recover without needing medical care.
• If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health-care provider or seek medical care. Your health-care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.
• Avoid further travel for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.