Influenza A/H1N1 (Swine) Travel Health Precautions

NOTE: This information is also available as a downloadable PDF, or you can pick up a printed copy at the Center for International Education.

Before You Travel

Be sure you are up to date with all vaccinations, pack a travel health kit (see sidebar), familiarize yourself with the healthcare resources in the area(s) you will be visiting, and ensure that you have adequate health insurance abroad (education abroad participants are covered by the Berea College Student Accident and Health Insurance Program and have additional coverage through the International Student Identity Card).

While Abroad

Monitor the local situation and follow local public health guidelines while continuing to practice healthy habits to stop the spread of novel H1N1 flu. Wash your hands often with soap and water; cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; and avoid contact with sick people.

After You Return

Closely monitor your health for 7 days. If symptoms of novel H1N1 flu appear, avoid close contact with others, unless you develop severe symptoms or are at high risk for complications. (See Information for Airline Passengers Exposed to Novel H1N1 Flu for further guidance from CDC.)

If You Develop Symptoms of H1N1 Flu

If you develop H1N1 flu symptoms before, during, or after your trip, delay your travel and notify both the Center for International Education (cie[at]berea.edu) and College Health Service (healthservice[at]berea.edu) immediately. Do not return to campus while you have flu symptoms.

If your symptoms are severe or you are at high risk for complications (see sidebar), contact a healthcare provider to ascertain if novel H1N1 flu testing or treatment is needed. While abroad, a US consular officer can assist in locating medical services.

If your symptoms are mild, stay at home (or wherever you are residing) for 7 days after your symptoms begin and avoid close contact with other people. The CDC expects that most people should recover without medical care.

Travel Health Kit

A Travel Health Kit includes basic first aid items, as well as personal prescription medications in original containers (be sure to take copies of your prescriptions), over-the-counter medication for pain and fever, cough suppressant, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and other items (for a complete list, refer to Pack Smart).

What does high risk mean?

People with chronic or long-term health problems (e.g., diabetes, asthma, kidney disease, etc.), as well as those with weakened immune systems, are at high risk of flu complications.
Women who are pregnant are also at high risk.

Related Links

• Berea College H1N1 (Swine) Flu Information
• Information for Airline Passengers Exposed to Novel H1N1 Flu
• Travel Health Precaution (Mexico)
• What To Do If You Get Flu-like Symptoms
• CDC H1N1 Information
• WHO Influenza A (H1N1) Information

CDC Travel Health Precaution for Mexico

CDC's Travel Health Warning recommending against non-essential travel to Mexico, in effect since April 27, 2009, has now been downgraded to a Travel Health Precaution for Mexico. CDC has been monitoring the ongoing outbreak of novel H1N1 flu in Mexico and, with the assistance of the Mexican authorities, has obtained a more complete picture of the outbreak. There is evidence that the Mexican outbreak is slowing down in many cities though not all. In addition, the United States and other countries are now seeing increasing numbers of cases not associated with travel to Mexico. Finally, the risk of severe disease from novel H1N1 virus infection now appears to be less than originally thought.

The full text of the CDC Travel Health Precaution for Mexico is available from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC Alert: Possible International Travel Delays Due to H1N1 Screening

Today, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the following alert about travel delays due to H1N1 screening:

Due to the outbreak of novel H1N1 flu occurring in the United States and many other countries, airport staff in some countries may check the health of arriving passengers. Many countries, including Japan and China, are screening arriving passengers for illness due to novel H1N1 flu. These health screenings are being used to prevent the spread of novel H1N1 flu. 

If you are sick with symptoms of influenza-like illness you should not travel.  These symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. 

Travelers should be aware that since the novel H1N1 flu outbreak is occurring in the United States, flights from the United States arriving in other countries may be specifically targeted for screening. United States travelers may be checked for fever and other symptoms of novel H1N1 flu and their travel may be delayed.

The full text of this Travel Alert is available from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Travel Alert: Mexico H1N1 Influenza Update

On 8 May, the US Department of State issued an updated Travel Alert for Mexico:

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the health risks of travel to Mexico at this time due to an outbreak of 2009-H1N1 influenza. On April 27, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a notice recommending that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Although conditions in Mexico appear to be improving, that notice remains in effect. The CDC's notice also suggests precautions that travelers and U.S. citizens resident in Mexico can take to reduce their risk of infection while in Mexico, provides recommendations for those who must travel to an area where cases of 2009-H1N1 influenza have been reported, and recommends measures travelers should take following their return from an area that has reported cases of 2009-H1N1 influenza.

The full text of this Travel Alert is available from the Overseas Security Advisory Council.

Clearance for International Travel

If you are planning international travel this summer, please note the following:

• Domestic students who have been approved to study abroad in all countries other than Mexico now have clearance to travel there, but said clearance could be rescinded at any time if changing conditions warrant (i.e., if an H1N1 flu outbreak occurs and/or the CDC issues a Travel Health Warning for that country).
• F-1 international students planning to return to their home country must obtain clearance from the International Student and Scholar Adviser (Kay Kelly) 7-14 days prior to departure, but said clearance could be rescinded at any time if changing conditions warrant (i.e., if an H1N1 flu outbreak occurs and/or the CDC issues a Travel Health Warning for that country).