Travel during H1N1 flu

It’s obvious that the spread of the H1N1 flu requires the adoption of common precaution measures, especially when traveling. Basically, cars, trains, buses, planes are crowded places where the virus can be easily spread. The longer the journey, the more chances to get the infection as the duration of close contact between passengers increases.

Thus, passengers infected with the virus become a source of the rapid virus spread when traveling during H1N1 flu epidemic. In each separate case everything depends on the number of infected passengers, hygienic cleaning of transport and other factors. That is why if you have to travel during the epidemic, stick to a few simple precaution measures:

1. With the first disease symptoms appeared before the trip, cancel or postpone it until the full recovery.
2. If you’re planning to travel during the epidemic, get a vaccination in advance. This may be a seasonal influenza vaccine or specific A (H1N1) vaccine.
3. When travelling, don’t forget about personal hygienic items: soap, towel as well as wet wipes containing alcohol. In case there is no possibility to wash hands, there is an alternative to do it with wet wipes.
4. When travelling, make sure you always have a pack of Kleenex. Use it to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing. Throw away used tissues immediately and wash hands with soap and water!
5. If possible, try to avoid face-to-face contact with other passengers.
6. If possible, avoid touching surfaces in transport or objects inside it. When the contact is unavoidable, wash your hands immediately with soap and water or wet wipes.

Following these instructions when travelling, you can prevent the spread of A (H1N1) flu as well as many other infectious diseases. Remember that discretion is the better part of valour!