Thaihealth

Since December 2005, there have been the outbreaks of avian influenza virus H5N1 in poultry in many parts of Asia; namely Lao, Malaysia, Cambodia, the People Republic of China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Eventually, the outbreaks have spread westward to Europe and the middle-east; Turkey, Romania and Kuwait.

The human avian influenza cases had been reported from Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and the People Republic of China of which the causes of infection occurred by direct contact with sick poultry and by drinking raw duck’s blood with virus h5n1 type.

Even though, the man-to-man transmission is rare but investigation in some cases revealed the possibilities of infection by intimate contact with the patient for a certain period of time. Hence, World Health organization has kept a close watch of the situation in the countries with continuous infection but does not, at present time, issue any travel restriction.

Advice for the people who want to stay or travel to Thailand during the period of outbreaks

1. General advice:

Keep good personal hygiene practice by frequently wash the hands with water and soap, especially when preparing food and eating, after touching dirty or contaminated surfaces, after coughing, sneezing or after entering the toilet. Hand scrub gel could also be used instead. These practices are preventive measures to stop the transmission.

Cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing

Avoid traveling into these area when feeling unwell.

2.When staying in the hot spot or area of the outbreak.

Never contact with live chickens , ducks , peoples who professionally work with that animals including birds , open zoo , parrots .

Never contact with death birds on the street .Birds, ducks or checken when they are all died without reasons should be notified as a high risk spot , 10 KM. around this area should be cleared by Thai CDC.

If you have to contact with lots of people in the hot spot area ,or have to go to hospital where patients suggestive of bird flu stay, your mouth and nose should be covered with particulate mask and strick personal hygeine as above measure.

3. If you are sick:

Please see the symptoms of Bird Flu , How to notified and treatment.

For Airline traveler , staffs or crew.

1. General Advice:

Same for good personal hygeine.

2. For sick airline staff:

Take a sick leave

Cover the mouth and nose with napkins or hand when coughing or sneezing.

Discard the contaminated napkins into the garbage bin immediately.

Wash hands with water and soap immediately after coughing or sneezing or use alcohol gel hand scrub.

3. How to deal with sick passenger on board:

3.1 The staff must be aware of avian influenza symptoms which resemblance human influenza; namely, high fever, headache, myalgia, malaise, sore throat, dry cough, running noses and hardly breathing.

3.2 If traveler from the area where avian influenza infection has been reported exhibits the aforementioned symptoms, do the following:

Set a separate seat far away from other passengers as possible (approximately 3-6 feet) Have the sick passenger don mask, if unavailable, use napkins to cover mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing. In case that the passenger can not don mask, the cabin crew should don mask when serving or contact directly with the passenger.

If the cabin crew has to contact blood or secretion such as saliva, nose secretion or phlegm, he or she has to don disposable gloves and discard properly. Wash hands with water and soap at once.

Notify the port health officer immediately upon arrival so the officer will prepare necessary medical help and launch the protective measures at once.

4. Immigration Officer:

Wash hands with water and soap when touching skin, preparing food, eating, touching own face, after napkins used, after entering the toilet, after coughing and sneezing. If water is unavailable, use alcohol gel hand scrub.

The officer in charge of detaining or taking care of passenger who is sick with respiratory infection and arrives from avian influenza infected area should separate this passenger from the others by 3-6 feet. Notify the port health officer and emergency medical service immediately.

While waiting for the arrival of emergency medical service, has the sick passenger don mask to prevent the aerosol of nose secretion and saliva blown up in the surrounding. If the sick passenger can not don mask, has he or she cover his or her mouth and nose with napkins and discard properly in the garbage bin. If the officer has to be near the sick passenger less than 3 feet, don mask.

Wear disposable gloves each time when contacting blood or secretion of the sick passenger such as nose secretion, saliva or phlegm. After discard the disposable gloves, wash hands with water and soap. If water is unavailable, use alcohol gel hand scrub.

5. How to deal with sick airline staff :

Cabin crew and ground staff who are sick and suspicious of contacting avian influenza virus should do the followings:

Take a sick leave. Limit person who has to be touched or contacted to the fewest. If travel is unavoidable such as going to see the doctor, don mask to reduce the transmission If cabin crew and ground staff are sick during the outbound journey, notify the immediate boss for help and get in touch with medical and public health authority to be taking care of. Health worker who examines and taking care of the sick passenger has to observe strict safe precaution. Cabin crew and ground staff returning from infected areas who attend the clinic, emergency room or the hospital are regard as the avian influenza infection risk group.

Should any staff become sick after returning home, he or she has to go to see the doctor or health staff and discloses the symptoms and travel history, including poultry contacting history.

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Published on: 2008-06-03 (484 reads)