Loading Travel Quick Search...
Hotels, Car Rentals, & Flights
Vacations & Cruises
With the onset of flu season, and the expectation of continued heavy media coverage of the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu), AAA has prepared the following Q & A for member inquiries regarding travel and the H1N1 virus.
Travelers should not be panicked by reports regarding the H1N1 virus, but rather should stay prepared and informed of the current situation at their destination and practice good hygiene to limit risk of exposure to any illness while traveling.
AAA recommends that travelers pay attention to announcements from government authorities and monitor news reports on the local health and security situation at their destination. Practicing good hygiene is the most effective way to keep good health while at home, work, school or traveling. Travelers should take common-sense steps to limit the spread of germs. Most importantly, make good hygiene a habit including washing hands frequently with soap and water, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and disposing of used tissues. Cough into your upper sleeve if you do not have a tissue and clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner. Stay at home if you are sick.
Many cruise lines, including members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have implemented enhanced screening procedures on a global basis to prevent the introduction and/or spread of H1N1 on board cruise ships. For specific safety measures, travelers can contact their cruise provider. Additionally, AAA recommends travelers pay attention to any announcements from local officials or cruise staff and stay information of the current situation at all destination ports. This information as well as prevention tips can be found at www. Flu.gov. Most importantly, to minimize risk of exposure to any illness practice good hygiene onboard and while at port. If you are feeling unwell seek attention from the onboard medical staff.
Not currently, but that situation can change. Daily situation updates and maps indicating cases of the H1N1 virus are available on the World Health Organization website at www.who.int.
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/updates/en/index.html
While you can't be sure your hotel room is virus-free, there are steps you can take to stay healthy. Follow the same actions that you take to prevent any flu—practice healthy habits (such as eating right, getting plenty of rest and drinking enough fluids) and try to avoid the germs and viruses spread by people who are sick with the flu. Take common-sense steps to limit the spread of germs. Make good hygiene a habit. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put used tissues in a wastebasket. Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don’t have a tissue and immediately wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner. Stay home if you are sick.
During your trip, follow local guidelines, practice healthy habits and good hygiene. Pay attention to announcements from the local government and monitor the local health and security situation. Follow any movement restrictions and prevention recommendations. Wash your hands often with soap and running water, especially after coughing or sneezing. (Use alcohol-based hand gels -- containing at least 60% alcohol -- when soap is not available and hands are not visibly dirty.) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and put your used tissue in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Avoid close contact with sick people.
It is expected that most people will recover without needing medical care. If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, seek medical care. A U.S. consular officer can help you find local medical care in a foreign country. To contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country you are visiting, call Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 00-1-202-501-4444 if calling from other countries. You can also visit USembassy.gov to find the contact information for the local U.S. Embassy of the country you are visiting. Follow all local health recommendations. For example, if you are sick, you may be asked to put on a surgical mask to protect others or to stay in your home or hotel to prevent the spread of H1N1 (Swine) flu.
Closely monitor your health for 7 days. If you become ill with fever and other symptoms of H1N1 (Swine) flu such as a cough, sore throat, and possibly vomiting and diarrhea, seek medical attention if symptoms are severe.
Before you book a trip, be sure to ask about cancelation policies. For your safety and the safety of all travelers, do not travel until seven days after symptoms begin or until you’ve been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Contact your travel agent about re-booking.
Health officials are currently treating all influenza-like illness the same (H1N1 or otherwise). If the public follows the CDC's advice (e.g., sneeze into sleeve not hand, regularly wash hands with soap and warm water, stay home if have you have an influenza like illness), the H1N1 virus can be better managed (even though some people will still become infected).
