South East Asia's Bird Flu Update

[vietnampassion]

News outlets have been carrying stories during the past weeks on the outbreak of the Avian Influenza also known as the Bird Flu in South East Asia. Currently it is confirmed as being present in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos & China. In Vietnam and Thailand a handful of humans have been infected. This disease is carried by birds including chickens and can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected birds, their excrement and carcasses. There are no cases of person to person transmission of this illness. The disease has killed eight people in Vietnam and two in Thailand.

The disease does not present any significant threat to current or intending travellers this region. The most up to date advice issued by the World Health Organisation reads as follows: “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 this disease in poultry should avoid contact with live animal markets and poultry farms.”

Mild precautionary travel advisories are being issued by the Australian government: "Australians (especially children) are advised to avoid situations where they may have contact with farms and live bird markets in areas that report outbreaks of avian influenza. The virus does not spread easily from chickens to people. There would be a very low risk of contracting the disease from occasional contact with an infected chicken such as when travelling on public transport."

Our Thailand, China and Indochina based staff and tour leaders report no impact on the countries except that many restaurants are no longer serving chicken. Bird flu cannot be contracted from eating properly prepared and cooked chicken.

Authorities in all countries affected are now acting quickly and have taken decisive measures to contain the problem. We will continue to monitor the outbreak however and should there be any changes, we will advise of these on this website.

Vietnam Saigon Tourist has decided to temporarily suspend visits to local markets handling livestock from our touring programs in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and China. Whilst we do not believe there are any significant risks at this stage we believe this is a prudent precautionary measure.

Please note that a significant amount of the media coverage of this and other diseases impacting in Asia wildly distorts and overstates the risks presented by these illnesses. We suggest that this website, World Health Organisation and government travel warnings to be more credible information sources.
_________________
www.vietnamluxurytravel.com
info@vietnamluxurytravel.com
-------------------------------------
Vietnam's Best Online Travel Site. We always will bring you great experience with great value

[Dan]

HOw sure are you that there have been no human to human transmissions of the virus?

The BBC (who remain a respected source despite the Govt.s attempts to rubbish it!) stated today that two vicctims in vietnam contracted the virus from their brother. I'll go and find the story.

Dan.
_________________
The Avatar? Not really a tropical paradise... it is South Shropshire, UK.

[Dan]

Seems the Beeb aren't so confident this afternoon:

This story is the current line on avian influenza in humans. In short, the source of the infection affecting the two sisters is uncertain.

Personally, I doubt that anyone outside Asia needs to worry about catching it soon. We have to wait and see how far the virus spreads, but like SARS, I hope it recedes again soon after hitting the headlines. Many viruses mutate rather fast, and can develop into very virulent organisms, but they are unlikely to survive unless living on their hosts.

I.E. Unless you come into contact with a live carrier, you can consider yourself safe from infection.

Dan.
_________________
The Avatar? Not really a tropical paradise... it is South Shropshire, UK.

[vietnampassion]

Hi,
At this moment , there was no evidence that this latest victim who first exhibited symptoms of the illness on January 11, had contracted the disease from another human.
The source of infection still seems to be coming from poultry. There still does not seem to be human-to-human transmission
Wait and see !
_________________
www.vietnamluxurytravel.com
info@vietnamluxurytravel.com
-------------------------------------
Vietnam's Best Online Travel Site. We always will bring you great experience with great value