Purdue News Service

Travel

The first level, "In the News," is for countries with sporadic cases of a disease. The risk for an individual traveler does not differ from the usual risk in that area.

An "Outbreak Notice" is issued for countries with a limited outbreak of a disease. The risk to travelers is limited.

A "Travel Health Precaution" is issued for outbreaks greater in scope but not yet warranting a recommendation against travel to a specific area. There may be recommendations limiting exposure to a defined setting, such as poultry farms or health-care settings.

The most severe level, a "Travel Health Warning," is issued for countries where there is evidence that an outbreak is expanding. The CDC recommends against nonessential travel at this level because a disease of public health concern is expanding outside the areas or populations that were initially affected.

Currently, the CDC has not recommended that the general public avoid travel to any of the countries affected by avian flu virus, but persons visiting areas with reports of outbreaks of among poultry or humans are advised to follow some basic guidelines.

Travelers should avoid all contact with poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, turkeys and quail) or any wild birds and avoid settings where infected poultry may be present, such as commercial or backyard poultry farms and live poultry markets. Also, they should not eat uncooked or undercooked poultry or poultry products, including dishes made with uncooked poultry blood.

For up-to-date information on travel notices, precautions and warnings, visit the CDC Web site.