Frequently Asked Questions about Avian Influenza A (H5N1) and Pandemic Influenza


Where can I find up-to-date medical and planning information on avian influenza A (H5N1) and pandemic influenza?

Current information about avian influenza A (H5N1) and pandemic influenza can be found at:

  • http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/qa.htm
  • http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx
  • http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/index.html
  • http://www.pandemicflu.gov
  • http://travel.state.gov
  • http://www.un-influenza.org/  

Why isn't the U. S. Government providing Tamiflu® to private Americans overseas?

The Department of State lacks the legal authority to provide any type of medication, including Tamiflu®, to private American citizens. State Department physicians and medical staff have authorization to treat only those official employees, and their families, who are under Chief of Mission (the principal officer in charge of a diplomatic facility of the United States) authority.

What if I get sick when I am outside the U.S.? If I have a preexisting medical condition, is there anything different I should do? How do I locate a local doctor when I am in another country?

Please see the Department's travel tips brochure on health issues, including the importance of obtaining adequate medical insurance to cover overseas medical emergencies at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1185.html.

If you have preexisting medical problems, you should carry a letter from your physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic name of prescribed drugs.

For a current list of doctors/hospitals in the country to which you are traveling, please visit the embassy or consulate website, which can be accessed through http://usembassy.state.gov/. The list is generally found under the Embassy or Consulate's link for Consular Services or American citizen services.

Will the U. S. government evacuate Americans from a foreign country in the event of a pandemic?

Current medical thinking suggests that remaining in country in a pandemic may be the appropriate response to the start of an influenza pandemic 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. Mass transit, including air travel, is a common venue for human-to-human transmission of viral infections due to the proximity of travelers to each other. Whether the U.S. government evacuates anyone will depend on a variety of country-specific factors. Each U.S. embassy and consulate has been asked to develop a contingency plan in the event of a pandemic, and to identify events that might prompt them to send employees and/or their dependents out of the country, assuming such travel is possible. Should this decision be made, the Department of State will communicate this to the private American community so that people can plan accordingly. As in any other crisis, the Department of State 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 official and private Americans.

As a private American citizen living overseas, what can I do today to help prepare myself and my family for a possible influenza pandemic?

Several simple measures can be taken now that will put you and your family in a better state of readiness should such a pandemic occur. These measures are outlined at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/planguide/ and also in the Remain in Country in a Pandemic flyer. If you are living overseas for work or education, contact your sponsors and find out what plans they have regarding repatriation or evacuation; they may also have advice for you about obtaining an influenza vaccination (if and when a vaccine becomes available), anti-viral medication, and employing other suggested preventive measures as the need arises.

What precautions should I take if I live in or visit an area affected by H5N1 "bird flu"?

Avoid contact with live birds, chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese and their feces, feathers and pens if at all possible. Children, in particular, should be taught these precautions, and small children may need to be supervised for their protection. Do not purchase or agree to adopt new pet birds from an area in which H5N1 influenza has been reported. Avoid poultry products from areas with H5N1-infected birds. Do not transport live or dead poultry even if it appears to be healthy.

All foods from poultry, including eggs and poultry blood should be cooked thoroughly. Egg yolks should not be runny or liquid. Because influenza viruses are destroyed by heat, the cooking temperature for poultry meat should be 74 C (165 F).

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. For more information on food handling and safety please visit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/index.asp

Sanitary professionals, health-care workers and others who must travel to H5N1-infected areas and work directly with infected birds, poultry and humans should follow approved precautions for reducing the risk for infection with H5N1 virus. See HHS/CDC guidance at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional/.

Can my domestic animals get bird flu?

There have been reports of H5N1 infection in domestic cats, pigs, tigers, leopards, ferrets, and stone martens. The domestic cats are believed to have been infected by eating raw, H5N1-infected birds. Although no human cases of avian influenza A have been associated with contact with infected cats, you should keep your cats inside if there has been a verified outbreak of H5N1 in your area. In addition, avoid contact with stray cats, and inform your local veterinarian if your cat becomes sick after having had contact with birds. You should always follow strict hygiene rules when disposing of animal waste or caring for your pets.

At this time, there is not enough information to determine if dogs can become infected with H5N1 virus. For more information about H5N1 infection in domestic animals, see the HHS/CDC web site at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/qa.htm.