The rise of Bird and Swine Flu viruses, obviously causes concern to holidaymakers and threatens the viability of their holiday contracts.  The UK Department of Health has published advices in a number of formats to deal with this potential threat. 

Bird Flu:

They advise that Bird Flu is one that affects mainly wild and domestic birds. In that form, it can spread very quickly through poultry farms or live bird markets, because the birds are usually kept closely together. Spread amongst birds is usually through their saliva, nasal fluids and droppings (some of which can be found on their feathers).

The most serious form of this flu is known as the H5N1 virus. The Department of Health advise that this is currently affecting chickens, ducks and some wild birds, in some parts of Asia, North Africa and Europe. They have advised that this form of the virus has spread to humans, but has only caused a small number of illnesses, usually amongst people who have a close contact with infected birds.

Of those infected, half have died, but the Department of Health stress that no human cases have occurred in the UK.

At this time, there is no confirmed evidence of this virus spreading from one human to another, and the Department of Health currently advise, that even coming into contact with infected birds, dead or alive, there remains a very low risk of catching this virus.

The simple advice from the Department of Health is:

1. Not to visit poultry farms of markets;
2. Avoid close contact with live or dead poultry;
3. Do not eat raw or poorly cooked poultry, particularly if they include blood;
4. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water;
5. They further advise that if you come into contact with live or dead poultry in an affected country or area, you should be aware of the symptoms of flu which can appear suddenly.

Reported symptoms include:

1. A Fever (temperature of 38•c or more);
2. Cough;
3. Shortness of breath;
4. Headache;
5. Sore Throat;
6. Sore Eyes;
7. Muscle Aches.

The advice is simple – if you develop these symptoms whilst abroad following contact with live or dead poultry, seek medical attention immediately.

The Department of Health advise that if you have been in contact with live or dead poultry and develop these symptoms when you return, then you should take the following action:

1. Seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or call NHS Direct on 08454647 – you should always advise your symptoms clearly and your recent travel history – follow any advices given;
2. Cover you nose or mouth when coughing or sneezing;
3. Use tissues only once, dispose of them promptly and carefully;
4. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water;

The following links are recommended for further information:

1. For Travel Health Advice consult The National Travel Health Network Centre
2. For additional Travel Advices in different countries/areas of the world visit the FCO travel advice pages;
3. UN list of infected areas (World Health Organisation);
4. Further detailed information and advice on the H5N1 virus
5. For further infromation on Bird Flu visit the Department of Health website

Swine Flu:

The Swine Flu virus came to prominence in April 2009 in Mexico.  The virus quickly spread to many countries around the world.  The NHS provides good basic advices on the origin and likely development of the virus.  The UK Direct.Gov website also provides up to date information of the progression of the virus within the UK.

The Symptoms of Swine Flu are stated to include:

1. sudden fever, and
2. sudden cough.

Other symptoms may include:

1. headache,
2. tiredness, 
3. chills,
4. aching muscles,
5. limb or joint pain,
6. diarrhoea or stomach upset,
7. sore throat,
8. runny nose,
9. sneezing, and
10. loss of appetite.

Helpfully, the Direct.Gov website sets out the Prevention & Treatment currently being recommended to deal with this outbreak.

If you are intending to travel to such a ‘Risk Destination’ check out the travel advices from the Foreign & Commonwealth website – but supplement those advices with further research – See our section ‘Know Before You Go!’

It is very important that if when you return to the UK, you are suffering with any flu-type illness, that you seek urgent medical attention.  It is also very important that you do not compromise any potential claim that you may have and we would also suggest that you contact us for further assistance.

If you have been affected by Swine Flu holiday complaints, then please contact us at HolidayTravelWatch.

For further details on our services, read our Legal Notice.

Tags: Avian Flu, Swine Flu

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 at 4:15 pm and is filed under Holiday Illness and Infection. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.