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Consular News 1 Nov 2005
Updated Travel Advice - including Avian Influenza
I wish to advise that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s travel advice for China was updated on 28 October 2005. This advice can be found at the following website address:
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/China
The Travel Bulletin relating to Avian Influenza (or ‘bird flu’) also was updated on 27 October 2005. It contains advice for Australians, Australian Government precautions, how to reduce the risk of infection, and other useful information including a link to the Australian Department of Health and Ageing's website. This Travel Bulletin can be found at the following website address:
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/TravelBulletins/Health_:_Avian_Influenza
I have also copied the text of the Avian Influenza Travel Bulletin below.
I encourage you to continue to monitor the above information.
I also ask for your assistance in promoting the above information, and registration with the Consulate, to all Australian citizens that you know or meet here in south China.
All Australians are encouraged to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australians can register in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, or online at http://www.orao.dfat.gov.au. The registration information provided will help us to find you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family emergency. It may also be used to pass other information to you such as new Travel Advisories, notice of elections and information on other matters relevant to travellers and expatriates.
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Travel Bulletin: Avian Influenza
The Bulletin was issued on Thursday, 27 October 2005, 19:48:40, EST.
Summary
• Australian travellers, long-term residents and businesses overseas should inform
themselves about the risks of avian influenza, be prepared to take personal responsibility for their own safety and put appropriate contingency plans in place.
. Australians who live in an avian influenza affected area for an extended period should consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment.
• Australians intending to travel to affected countries for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre- travel health checks.
• If the threat of sustained human-to-human transmission appears serious, we will advise Australians in affected countries to consider leaving. If they don't leave when first advised to do so, they may be prevented from leaving later.
• In case they need to depart an affected country at short notice, Australians should ensure that their travel documents are up to date.
15/F, Main Building, Guangdong International Hotel, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu, Guangzhou 510098, PRC
Telephone: 86 20 8335 5911
Facsimile: 86 20 8335 0718
Website: www.china.embassy.gov.au/guangzhou
• If a widespread outbreak occurs, the delivery of consular assistance to Australians could be severely constrained. Australian missions and offices overseas will not be in a position to provide influenza antiviral medicines to Australians in affected areas. Australian travellers, long-term
residents and businesses are responsible for securing their own supply of influenza antiviral medicine.
Avian influenza outbreak
Since 30 December 2004, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed a number of human deaths from avian influenza in Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand.
The Australian Department of Health and Ageing is maintaining a list of Frequently Asked Questions on avian influenza for Australians. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-avian_influenza-faq.htm
Advice for Australians
The Department of Health advises Australians who reside in an avian influenza affected area for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment. Long term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. Medical advice should be sought before antiviral medicines are commenced.
The Department of Health advises that Australians intending to travel to avian influenza affected areas for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks.
Currently there is only a limited availability of influenza antiviral medicines in many countries including Australia. Australians should familiarise themselves with the advice regarding personal protective and infection-control measures provided on the Department of Health's Pandemic Influenza website including the 'Prepared and Protected video'. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-avian_influenza-index.htm http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/phd-pandemic-resources.htm
Individual Australians and Australian businesses overseas are responsible for securing their own supply of influenza antiviral medicine (such as Tamiflu or Relenza). Australian missions and offices overseas will not be in a position to provide influenza antiviral medicines to Australians in affected areas.
Australians should be aware that the delivery of consular assistance to Australians if an outbreak occurs could be severely constrained by local health conditions and restrictions on travel. Australian travellers, long term residents and businesses overseas should be prepared in these circumstances to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, and should monitor this Bulletin and the relevant country travel advice for updated information and advice.
If the threat of sustained human-to-human transmission appears serious, we will advise Australians in affected countries to consider leaving, and Australians planning travel to affected countries to reconsider their need to travel. At the same time the Australian Government would likely direct its staff in those countries who are not providing emergency services, and all dependants of staff, to depart. As a precautionary measure in case they need to depart at short notice, Australians should ensure that their travel documents are up to date, including passports and visas for any non- Australian family members. Australians who return to Australia from any areas affected by human-to- human transmission may be subject to quarantine measures at Australian borders.
If the virus mutates to a form where efficient human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australians who don't leave affected countries when first advised to do so may be prevented from leaving later. Borders may be closed, commercial air services may be curtailed or halted and quarantine requirements may
further restrict options for leaving. Australians therefore need to consider in advance how they can care for themselves and put appropriate contingency plans in place.
Australian Government precautions
The Australian Government has decided as a precautionary measure to hold a limited supply of the influenza antiviral medicine oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and protective face masks at its missions and offices in Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Burma, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and Laos. The antivirals would primarily be used to protect emergency staff providing consular and other essential services in the event of a widespread outbreak of avian influenza amongst humans. These medicines are not currently being taken by staff and will only be taken on medical advice.
This is a prudent measure to ensure that Australian officials overseas will be able to maintain essential services to Australians if a human outbreak does occur. The limited influenza antiviral medicine supplies held at these missions and offices is not intended and does not allow for provision to other Australians who may be in the affected area.
Reducing the risk of infection
People are at risk of contracting avian influenza if they have close contact with infected birds. The virus does not spread easily from birds to people. There is a very low risk of contracting the disease from occasional contact with an infected bird such as when travelling on public transport.
Australians travelling to areas affected by avian influenza can reduce their risk of infection by:
• avoiding situations where they may come into contact with farms and live bird markets, and
• ensuring all uncooked poultry and eggs are handled hygienically, with careful attention to
hand washing after handling, and then cooked thoroughly. Proper cooking destroys the virus in poultry and eggs.
Avian influenza amongst birds
Since December 2004 outbreaks amongst birds, including chickens and ducks, have been reported in Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, Turkey, Romania, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The WHO is working to support national disease authorities in the affected countries to investigate the outbreaks. The WHO (http://www.who.int/en/)has not advised against travel to any of the affected countries.
Further information
Information about how the virus spreads from birds to humans, including frequently asked questions about avian influenza, is available from the Department of Health and Ageing's website or by phoning (61) 1800 004 599. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in conjunction with the Department of Health and Ageing, will continue to monitor avian influenza closely including for any implications for overseas travel.
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/Publishing.nsf/Content/health-avian_influenza-faq.htm
Consular Assistance and Registration
In mainland China, Australians may obtain consular assistance from the:
Australian Embassy
21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Sanlitun, Beijing 100600
Telephone (86 10) 5140 4111
Facsimile (86 10) 5140 4292
Website http://www.china.embassy.gov.au
Australian Consulate General
Level 22, CITIC Square
1168 Nanjing Xi Lu
Shanghai 200041
Telephone (86 21) 5292 5500
Facsimile (86 21) 5292 5511
Website http://www.china.embassy.gov.au/shanghai
Australian Consulate General
Room 1509
Main Building
Guangdong International Hotel
339 Huanshi Dong Lu
Guangzhou 510098
Telephone: (86 20) 8335 0909 (visa enquiries only)
(86 20) 8335 5911 (non visa enquiries)
Facsimile: (86 20) 8335 0718
Website: http://www.china.embassy.gov.au/guangzhou
All Australians travelling to China, whether for tourism or business or for short or long stays, are encouraged to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australians can register in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate or on-line. The registration information provided by you will help us to find you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family emergency.
http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/index.html
http://www.orao.dfat.gov.au
Australians planning travel and those overseas are encouraged to monitor our travel advice updates, including through use of our free subscription service, at smartraveller.gov.au.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (61) 2 6261 3305. While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
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Yours sincerely
Kelli-Ann Kerin
Consul