Swine Flu and air travel - H1N1 and air travel.

My Clean Sky has developed this page to link visitors with quality information about how best to react to the swine flu event currently unfolding, paticularly in relation to flying.

We have picked out some critical links below for your reference.

Be informed, not alarmed. Fly safely.

The World Health Organisation

A leading organisation in the fight against Pig Fever, or Swine Fever.

WHO International Air Travel & Health.

Preface

Chapter 1 - Health risks and precautions: general considerations

Chapter 2 - Mode of travel: health considerations

Chapter 3 - Environmental health risks

Chapter 4 - Injuries and violence

Chapter 5 - Infectious diseases of potential risk for travellers

Chapter 6  - Vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccines

Chapter 7  - Malaria

Chapter 8 - Exposure to blood or other body fluids

Chapter 9 - Special groups of travellers

Chapter 10 - Psychological Health

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

Swine Flu information.

Listen to swine flu podcast

Wikipedia on Swine Influenza.

2009 swine flu outbreak

Queensland Health on Swine Flu

Swine influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs.  People do not usually get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen.  Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person to person, but in the past this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza (H1N1) viruses were reported in Mexico and some parts of the United States (US). The majority of cases have occurred in Mexico, mainly affecting healthy young adults. Some of these cases have been severe. Person to person transmission appears to be occurring.

Australian Department of Health

Swine Influenza Information

Travel Health Brochure

International Air Travel Association

Air travel and Communicable Diseases

Swine Influenza Q&A brochure

Internationa Civil Aviation Organisation

The WHO considers that containment is no longer possible, as the virus had been identified in three different countries and, therefore, the current focus should be on mitigation measures. Importantly, the WHO recommended 'not to close borders, and not to restrict international travel.' Further, individuals who are unwell should delay international travel and those developing symptoms following such travel should seek medical attention.

The New Scientist

Swine Flu: What you need to know

Hundreds people in Mexico and an increasing number in other countries have come down with a new kind of swine flu. People are concerned because some of those infected in Mexico have died, and because this is the kind of virus that could become a serious worldwide epidemic. Read More.

Swine flu or H1N1?

The World Health Organisation and the United States have dropped the name 'swine flu' in favour of its technical term 'H1N1' to avoid hurting the pork industry. Some groups have suggested naming it 'Mexican flu', but Mexico objects. Which will you blame your runny nose on?

Read More.

Definitions

Virus - a submicroscopic infectious agent that is unable to grow outside a host cell.

Flu or Influenza - an infectious disease cause by RNA viruses that infects mammals and birds. Fever and coughs are the most frequent symptoms.

Epidemic - a certain disease that appears in a human population within a given time that substantially exceeds what is expected based on recent experience.

H1N1 - Influenza virus subtype H1N1 is a subtype of influenzavirus A and the most common cause of influenza in humans.