Advice to international travellers

6 February 2004

WHO's advice to international travellers has not changed from that published in the WHO situation report, Avian influenza - update 8.

WHO does not at present recommend any restrictions on travel to any country currently experiencing outbreaks of H5N1 avian infection in poultry flocks, including countries which have also reported cases in humans.

At this time, WHO recommends that travellers to areas experiencing outbreaks of H5N1 avian infection should avoid contact with live animal markets and poultry farms. Large amounts of the virus are known to be excreted in the droppings from infected birds.

Full details on poultry outbreaks are available at the OIE website.

To date, outbreaks in poultry caused by the H5N1 strain have been confirmed in the following countries (listed in order of reporting):

• Republic of Korea (12 December 2003 – first outbreak of this disease ever reported)
• Viet Nam (8 January 2004 – first outbreak of this disease ever reported)
• Japan (12 January 2004 – first outbreak of this disease since 1925)
• Thailand (23 January 2004 – first outbreak of this disease ever reported)
• Cambodia (24 January 2004)
• China (27 January 2004)
• Laos (27 January 2004 – H5 confirmed, testing for H5N1 under way)
• Indonesia (2 February 2004 – first outbreak of this disease ever reported)

Two other areas (Taiwan, China and Pakistan) have reported outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry. However, tests have confirmed that these outbreaks are not caused by the H5N1 strain.