Are there any current advisories or restrictions against travel abroad because of avian flu?

No.

What precautions should I take if I visit an area where there is avian flu?

Travelers to areas affected by avian influenza are not considered to be at elevated risk of infection unless direct and unprotected exposure to infected birds (including feathers, feces and under-cooked meat and egg products) occurs.

WHO continues to recommend that travelers to affected areas avoid contact with live animal markets and poultry farms, and any free-ranging or caged poultry. Large amounts of the virus are known to be excreted in the droppings from infected birds. Populations in affected countries are advised to avoid contact with dead migratory birds or wild birds showing signs of disease.

Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their droppings, is considered the main route of human infection. Exposure risk is considered highest during slaughter, defeathering, butchering, and preparation of poultry for cooking. There is no evidence that properly cooked poultry or poultry products can be a source of infection.

Travelers should contact their local health providers or national health authorities for supplementary information.

If you travel to areas with avian flu:

• Avoid contact with live birds, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, and their feces, feathers, if at all possible. Children, in particular, should be warned and precautions enforced.
• Pet birds should not be kept.
• If preparing poultry, cook it well done before eating.
• Avoid cross contamination of other foods by use of separate kitchen utensils and surfaces exposed to raw poultry.
• Wash hands with soap and water after any poultry contact.
• Be sure, if possible, that poultry does not live near your housing area.
• Do not transport live or dead poultry even if it appears to be healthy.
• Avoid poultry products from areas of known infected birds.
• If you must work directly with infected birds, poultry or humans, hand washing and shoe and clothing cleaning should be an immediate priority.
• Be sure to wear gloves, a special N-95 mask, goggles, and a disposable gown if you must be in contact with the birds/poultry in enclosed environments where aerosolization of the small virus particles may occur.
• Observe yourself for the development of any respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms after the visit and check your temperature for a week afterwards. Contact a physician if you have any questions.

Should I begin taking antiviral meds if I visit an area where there is avian flu?

No, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically states at this time persons traveling to countries with avian influenza cases in birds, poultry, or humans do not need to take Tamiflu® prophylactically. If you become ill in any way while in the country, you should seek medical advice immediately. Travelers to any country that has reported cases of H5N1 among birds or humans should consider scheduling an appointment with their health care provider before traveling to discuss risks for potential exposure to H5N1. Only you and your health care provider can determine that risk and what the most appropriate precautions are for you.

Would US citizens in a foreign country be evacuated in the event of a pandemic?

Current medical thinking suggests that a "stay in place" response to a pandemic may be appropriate in certain countries or regions. In this scenario, people would be advised to exercise "social distancing" and avoid any form of public gathering where transmission of the disease could occur. Crowding associated with travel is a concern for human-to-human transmission of viral infections due to proximity of travelers. People who are not comfortable with this scenario should consider these factors when making their plans.

Whether the US Government evacuates anyone will depend on a variety of factors specific to individual countries, including supplies of food and water, security, and medical infrastructure. Each US Embassy has been asked to develop a contingency plan in the event of a pandemic. As in any other crisis, the US government will assess the availability of commercial transportation, the ability of people to travel to the United States or a third country, and other related factors in deciding on appropriate actions to assist Americans.