No avian flu restrictions over spring break, but travelers should still be cautious

University Park, Pa. -- Penn State students, faculty and staff who plan to travel out of the country over the spring break will not face any official travel restrictions due to Influenza A H5N1 (avian influenza strain, also referred to as bird flu).

The U.S. Department of State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have not issued any travel alerts or warnings for avian-flu infected areas. However, the CDC advises travelers to countries with documented H5N1 outbreaks to avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces or fluids from poultry or other animals.

If going to a country where avian flu has been identified (see http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/avian_influenza_se_asia_2005.htm for more information), travelers should consider the potential risks and keep informed of the latest medical guidance and information in order to make appropriate plans.

Margaret Spear, director of University Health Services at Penn State, recommends that students and other spring-break travelers follow the basic CDC guidelines for reducing the risk of infections while traveling.

First, travelers should find out if the places they are going to have any disease risks or CDC health recommendations. They should make sure they are sure they are up-to-date with all routine travel vaccinations. If any additional vaccinations or medications are needed, they ideally should see their health-care provider four to six weeks before traveling.

A travel health kit containing basic first-aid and medical supplies is a wise investment, Spear said. In addition, travelers should check their health insurance plan or get additional insurance that covers medical evacuation in case they do become sick while traveling.

Spear also noted that regardless of travel plans over spring break, one of the most important ways to prevent infections for everyone is frequent hand-washing. Cleaning hands often with soap and water (or alcohol-based hand gel when soap is not available) removes potentially infectious material from skin and helps prevent disease transmission.

Travel recommendations to Penn State students who are studying overseas are based on the U.S. State Department's travel advisories. According to John M. Keller, director of Penn State's Office of Education Abroad, the University carefully monitors State Department announcements regarding the latest international health and safety issues.

"Education Abroad uses the information as a principal factor in determining whether to keep programs open or to suspend them," said Keller.

In making these decisions, Education Abroad also works closely with Penn State's Office of Risk Management and a University-wide committee on international health and safety. Penn State's procedures comply closely with the best-practices of the study-abroad community, according to Keller.

For additional information about avian flu and/or travel abroad, visit the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm online. WHO guidance related to avian flu is available at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/ online.

Last Updated July 22, 2015

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