UK travellers offered bird flu advice

Travellers heading to destinations affected by avian flu can now get advice from the government on how to prevent catching it and how to recognise its symptoms.

Although the UK has not seen a case of the H5N1 virus, many popular destinations on the continent and further abroad have, leading the Department of Health to publish its leaflet.

Advice includes avoiding poultry farms or markets along with raw or poorly cooked poultry and regular washing of hands.

Though stressing that the disease had only struck those working closely with birds, chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said it was important that travellers from the UK to have clear factual information.

Sir Liam stressed that there was no need to panic but caution was required.

He added: "H5N1 avian influenza is predominantly a disease of birds.

"The virus does not pass easily from birds to people and has not yet been shown to pass from person to person."

A guide to recognising symptoms is also included, such as fevers over 38C, headaches, shortness of breath, sore throats and eyes and muscle aches.

So far, 94 people are said to have died from the disease in south east Asia and Turkey, but birds in Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia have been diagnosed with H5N1.

Leaflets will be available at health centres and GP surgeries, as well as air and seaports, and can also be downloaded from the department's website.

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