Infectious Diseases
Key Points

Travellers to affected areas should take the following precautions:

• Avoid contact with live poultry and wild birds.
• Avoid visiting live animal markets and poultry farms.
• Avoid contact with surfaces or water contaminated with animal faeces.
• Do not eat or handle poultry, egg, or duck dishes which are undercooked or raw.
• Exercise good personal hygiene with frequent hand washing.
• Do not attempt to bring any poultry products back to the UK.

Staff planning to cover stories on H5N1 should:

• Check myRisks website for up-to-date health advice.
• Contact the High Risk Team.
• Contact your local travel clinic for relevant immunisations, malaria prophylaxis and other preventive measures.
• Speak to an occupational health doctor for influenza specific medical interventions (e.g. the need for anti-virals if travelling to a remote area with limited access to medical care).
• Ensure they have the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This is obtainable from safety equipment stores. 
• If you have been to an H5N1 affected area, or have been covering a story on H5N1, and you become ill during this 10-day period,  you must seek medical advice.
• If you use sharps in your work you must dispose of them safely through a waste management company and in an approved sharps container (constructed to BS 7320 1990).