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Avian influenza

Definitions

Avian influenza, or "bird 'flu": a contagious disease caused by viruses that normally infect only birds. It has occasionally infected humans who have had close contact with poultry or wild birds. There is currently no evidence of sustainable transmission of avian influenza from person to person.

There is concern that the current H5N1 strain of avian influenza may mutate into pandemic influenza.

Another avian influenza virus, A(H7N9) has recently been diagnosed in eastern China and Taiwan, causing sporadic cases of severe respiratory illness in humans. The advice below is also valid for this new avian influenza virus.

Up to date information and FAQs on this new avian influenza virus can be found on the World Health Organisation website.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has a six-phase alert system to respond to pandemics. The current WHO phase for avian flu is Phase Three (Pandemic Alert: no human to human transmission).

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Advice to New Zealanders travelling overseas

At this stage, the WHO is not recommending against travel to any areas affected by avian influenza [external link to OIE website].

The Ministry of Health and MFAT jointly prepare travel advice on avian and pandemic influenza. MFAT also prepares country-specific travel advice based on security concerns.

Staying safe

The risk of contracting avian influenza is believed to be very low, provided you:

avoid live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds
avoid contact with surfaces contaminated with animal faeces or fluids
avoid eating or handling undercooked or raw poultry, egg or duck dishes
avoid dishes made with fresh duck blood; and
wash your hands regularly.

Normal cooking destroys the avian influenza virus. No cases of avian influenza have been linked to the consumption of properly cooked poultry and egg products.

Being prepared

Travellers should monitor the advice of local authorities about the risks of avian influenza locally and assistance available. We also encourage you to:

ensure that friends and family are informed of your travel itinerary
register your details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade so you can be contacted in an emergency
know how to contact the nearest New Zealand representative
take out travel insurance and be aware of any limitations on cover
consult your medical practitioner 4-6 weeks before travel, regardless of destination, to check on appropriate medications or inoculations, or for advice on any specific health concerns
consider how you could look after yourself and your family if border and quarantine restrictions were put in place. Such restrictions could be applied quickly if the situation worsened.

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Advice for New Zealanders living overseas

New Zealanders living overseas should be prepared to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being should they be at risk from avian influenza-related pandemic. The information below is offered to help New Zealanders make adequate preparations for this risk.

If avian influenza evolves into a human pandemic, it is possible that some countries may close their borders. This is an option that may be considered in New Zealand. Decisions to close borders may be taken very quickly following declaration of a pandemic. Therefore, you need to consider in advance how you can care for yourself, wherever you are.

New Zealand Embassies and High Commissions overseas will not be able to:

provide any anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu to New Zealand citizens overseas
help New Zealand citizens overseas return to New Zealand if borders are closed.

We will try to provide the most up to date and accurate information possible so you can make sensible decisions about travel, but we cannot guarantee that you would receive advance warning of a border closure quickly enough to enable you to reach New Zealand beforehand.

You may not be able to return to New Zealand, even at short notice, if the avian influenza risk rises suddenly and seriously.

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Being prepared

You should:

ensure your travel documents are up to date and in a safe place
regularly monitor the New Zealand Ministry of Health website [external link]
record your details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
consider how you could look after yourself and your family if border and quarantine restrictions were put in place that restricted your options for leaving
think about the items you might need to store (e.g. cash, food, water, batteries, medication.)

Staying safe

The risk of contracting avian influenza is believed to be very low, provided you:

avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds
avoid contact with surfaces contaminated with animal faeces or fluids
avoid eating or handling undercooked or raw poultry, egg or duck dishes
avoid dishes made with fresh duck blood; and
wash your hands regularly.

Normal cooking destroys the avian influenza virus. No cases of avian influenza have been linked to the consumption of properly cooked poultry and egg products.

Anti-viral Medication

Tamiflu and other anti-viral medication can shorten the course of infection, if given early. Several anti-virals have specific activity against the influenza virus. Tamiflu [external link] is one of two anti-viral medicines that may be effective against the strains of avian influenza, the other medicine is Relenza [external link].

You should consult your doctor on whether this is appropriate for you.

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Tamiflu can prevent infection with influenza but would need to be taken daily throughout the period of risk. It can also be effective after exposure to the virus if taken either before symptoms develop, or within 48 hours after symptoms develop. Tamiflu can have some side effects. Further information is available on the New Zealand Ministry of Health website [external link]. It is unclear whether Tamiflu will be effective against the particular strain of avian flu that might become freely transmitted from human to human in the future, and some strains of seasonal influenza have developed resistance to the drug.

Tamiflu stocks are currently limited in many countries. The New Zealand Ministry of Health will not have sufficient stocks of Tamiflu to distribute to New Zealanders overseas. If you are living in or near an avian influenza-affected country for an extended period, you might wish to consult your doctor on whether they would have access to anti-virals (such as Tamiflu) for treatment.

Role of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)

1 Pandemic planning

MFAT works closely with other government agencies to ensure a coordinated national pandemic response. The Ministry of Health has issued New Zealand's pandemic influenza action plan [external link].

MFAT's responsibilities include:

providing travel advice to New Zealand travellers (in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and drawing on information from the World Health Organisation)
providing information for New Zealanders travelling and living overseas
planning how we might assist New Zealanders overseas if a pandemic occurs
liaising with other governments and international organisations on pandemic planning issues
planning for continuity of our business in the event of a pandemic.

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2 During pandemic

It is likely a pandemic of avian influenza would first appear outside New Zealand. MFAT will:

provide travel advice to New Zealand travellers (in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and drawing on information from the World Health Organisation)
provide information for New Zealanders travelling and living overseas
provide some assistance to New Zealanders overseas
ensure the New Zealand government has up-to-date information on the global spread of the pandemic and the international response to it
contribute to efforts to provide assistance to Pacific Island countries.

Further Information

The latest information on pandemic influenza can be found on the following websites [all links are external]:

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I postpone travel to areas currently infected with avian influenza?

While there are no restrictions in place at present, travellers should regularly monitor the Ministry of Health website and this website. Currently the risk of infection is low for people living in or making short-term visits to areas affected by avian influenza [external link], providing they observe the recommended precautions. Should the current situation change, we will aim to provide the most up to date and accurate information possible so New Zealanders overseas can make sensible decisions about travel.

What will happen if the avian influenza virus mutates to a strain easily transmissible between humans while I am out of New Zealand?

If the H5N1 avian influenza virus mutates to a form allowing human-to-human transmission, all countries are likely to take a range of graduated measures, depending on how quickly such a virus was spreading. Such measures, particularly in affected countries, could include restricting travel within countries and between borders, exit screening, and other measures to contain the virus and prevent it spreading. Countries may also consider fully closing their borders.

Will the New Zealand Government issue a warning to New Zealanders living or travelling abroad before the borders are closed?

If the risk of avian influenza-related pandemic escalates, countries are likely to take a range of graduated measures, depending on how quickly the virus spreads. These could include travel restrictions within borders, exit screening measures, or other containment measures to prevent it spreading beyond a "cluster". It is likely there would be very little advance warning of a full border closure, whether by New Zealand or another country.

What can I do if the New Zealand border is closed while I am overseas?

There would probably be very little advance warning of a decision to close the New Zealand border. Planning for a possible border closure does take account of New Zealanders living and travelling overseas. However any assistance that New Zealand could offer might be limited by local restrictions on travel and local health conditions. We would therefore advise you to prepare to be responsible for your own safety and to make appropriate contingency plans.