Swine flu: advice for travellers as WHO raises pandemic alert level to Phase 4

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the swine flu pandemic alert level to Phase 4. Because of this, the Foreign Office is now “advising against all but essential travel to Mexico.”

A phase 4 pandemic alert means there is now a significant increased risk of a pandemic. It does not mean, however, that a pandemic is a certainty. In Europe, there has been one confirmed case of swine flu in Spain and another two in Scotland. The UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) is currently monitoring events as they unfold and assessing the threat posed to UK public health.

In a statement issued today the HPA said the appearance of confirmed cases in the UK and Europe was not unexpected. In addition to the Mexican cases there have been cases reported in various parts of the US, Canada and New Zealand so the likelihood that it would arrive in the UK was always high.

Advice for returning travellers

If you have recently visited one of the countries or areas where human cases of influenza have been identified, it is important to monitor your health closely for seven days after your visit to the affected area. There is no need to isolate yourself from other people as long as you feel well.

During this period, if you develop a feverish illness accompanied by one or more of the following:

• cough
• sore throat
• headach
• aching muscles and joints
• runny nose
• severe weakness and fatigue

you should stay at home and contact your GP by ‘phone or seek advice from NHS Direct (0845 4647). It is important your GP is told about your recent travel to an affected area. Depending on the symptoms, further investigations may be necessary.

Doctors have been asked to consider swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection when assessing returning travellers and visitors to the UK who present with flu-like symptoms and have a history of travel to affected areas in the 7 days preceding illness onset.

More information

For the latest travel advice on countries affected by swine flu:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office : http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/swine-flu

For information on swine flu symptoms and how to minimise your risk of infection see our encyclopaedia article Pandemic flu

This article was published on Tue 28 April 2009