Know What to Do
Preventive measures for you and your family
There are many things you can do before and during an outbreak that may help lessen the impact of a pandemic flu on you and your family. For example, the U.S. Government’s Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families recommends having a two-week supply of water and food on hand in the event that you are asked not to go to stores or the stores are out of supplies. They also stress the importance of good personal hygiene to help limit the spread of germs.
Knowing what to do and preparing yourself for a possible outbreak now may help reduce the possible number of cases and slow the spread of the virus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use an antiseptic alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues.
- Throw used tissues in a waste basket. Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don’t have a tissue.
- Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Stay away from others as much as possible if they are sick.
- Stay home from work and school if you are sick.
- Don’t shake hands with anyone who appears to be sick.
Practice good health habits
- Eat a balanced diet. Include a variety of foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grain items. Also, include low-fat dairy products, lean meats, fish, and beans.
- Drink lots of water.
- Stop smoking.
- Exercise regularly.
- Get plenty of rest.
How should individuals prepare?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), CDC, and health experts ask individuals to stock up on foods and other necessities, improve health, and plan ahead for how they will care for themselves and family members during a flu pandemic.
Stock up
- Store nonperishable foods, bottled water, over-the-counter drugs, health supplies, and other necessities.
- HHS recommends having a two-week supply, but stocking up can take place over time.
- These supplies can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages.
Improve health
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently throughout the day.
- Cover your nose and mouth with your sleeve or a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Plan ahead
Plan for what you will do in the following cases:
- if schools are dismissed;
- if you cannot go to work;
- if you or a family member becomes sick and needs care.
How do I learn more?
For more information, visit www.pandemicflu.gov.
Items to have on hand for an extended stay at home
Examples of food and nonperishables |
Examples of medical, health, and emergency supplies |
- ready-to-eat canned meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, and soups
- protein or fruit bars
- dry cereal or granola
- peanut butter
- dried fruit
- crackers
- canned juices
- bottled water
- canned or jarred baby food and formula
- pet food
- other nonperishable foods
|
- prescribed medical supplies, such as glucose and blood-pressure monitoring equipment
- soap and water, or alcohol-based (60%–95%) hand wash
- medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- thermometer
- antidiarrheal medication
- vitamins
- fluids with electrolytes
- cleansing agent/soap
- flashlight
- batteries
- portable radio
- manual can opener
|
General advice about contact with poultry and eggs
To date, avian influenza cannot be caught from eating well-cooked poultry or eggs. However, it can be caught from raw or undercooked poultry or eggs if the bird is infected. The primary mode of transmission from birds to humans is through direct contact with infected bird feces. Other, more common infections, such as Salmonella bacteria, can also be caught from undercooked or raw poultry or raw eggs. So it is always a good idea to wash any surface that is in contact with raw poultry with hot, soapy water and avoid ingesting raw eggs.
According to the CDC, as of April 2006, the rare cases of H5N1 infection in humans are thought to have occurred from direct contact with infected poultry in affected countries. Therefore, when possible, care should be taken to avoid contact with live, well-appearing, sick, or dead poultry and with any surfaces that may have been contaminated by poultry or their feces or secretions. Uncooked poultry or poultry products, including blood, should not be consumed.
Information for Travelers*
The CDC has not recommended that the general public avoid travel to any of the countries affected by H5N1. However, as recommendations are updated frequently, any traveler should visit the CDC’s Travelers' Health website frequently to check updated information.
Persons visiting areas with reports of outbreaks of H5N1 among poultry or of human H5N1 cases can reduce their risk of infection by observing the following measures.
Before any international travel to an area affected by H5N1 avian influenza:
- Visit CDC’s Travelers’ Health web pages to educate yourself and others who may be traveling with you about any disease risks and CDC health recommendations for international travel in areas you plan to visit. For other information about avian influenza, visit CDC’s Avian Influenza.
- Be sure you are up to date with all your routine vaccinations, and see your doctor or health care provider, ideally 4–6 weeks before travel, to get any additional vaccination, medications, or information you may need.
- Assemble a travel health kit containing basic first aid and medical supplies. Be sure to include a thermometer and alcohol-based hand gel for hand hygiene. See the Travelers Health Kit page in Health Information for International Travel for other suggested items.
- Identify in-country health care resources in advance of your trip.
- Check your health insurance plan or get additional insurance that covers medical evacuation in case you become sick. Information about medical evacuation services is provided on the U.S. Department of State web page, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad.
During travel to an affected area:
- Avoid all direct contact with poultry, including touching well-appearing, sick, or dead chickens and ducks. Avoid places such as poultry farms and bird markets where live poultry are raised or kept, and avoid handling surfaces contaminated with poultry feces or secretions.
- As with other infectious illnesses, one of the most important preventive practices is careful and frequent hand washing. Cleaning your hands often with soap and water removes potentially infectious material from your skin and helps prevent disease transmission. Waterless alcohol-based hand gels may be used when soap is not available and hands are not visibly soiled.
- Influenza viruses are destroyed by heat; therefore, as a precaution, all foods from poultry, including eggs and poultry blood, should be thoroughly cooked.
- If you become sick with symptoms such as a fever accompanied by a cough, sore throat, or difficulty breathing, or if you develop any illness that requires prompt medical attention, a
U.S.
consular officer can assist you in locating medical services and informing your family or friends. Inform your health care provider of any possible exposures to avian influenza. See Seeking Health Care Abroad in Health Information for International Travel for more information about what to do if you become ill while abroad. You should defer further travel until you are free of symptoms unless traveling locally for medical care.
Note: Some countries have instituted health monitoring techniques, such as temperature screenings, at ports of entry of travelers arriving from areas affected by avian influenza. Please consult the embassy of your travel destination country if you have any questions.
After your return:
- Monitor your health for 10 days.
- If you become ill with a fever plus a cough, sore throat, or trouble breathing during this 10-day period, consult a health care provider. Before you visit a health care setting, tell the provider the following: 1) your symptoms, 2) where you traveled, and 3) if you have had direct contact with poultry or close contact with a severely ill person. This way, he or she can be aware that you have traveled to an area reporting avian influenza.
- Do not travel while ill unless you are seeking medical care. Limiting contact with others as much as possible can help prevent the spread of an infectious illness.
Additional Resources
Individual & Family Planning — Family Guide, checklists and information sheets from HHS.
World Health Organization: Avian Influenza — Latest news, country activities, general information, and regional information.
CDC: Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) — Key facts, Q&A, prevention, outbreaks, and information for specific audiences from the CDC.
PandemicFlu.gov — The U.S. Government’s avian and pandemic flu website, managed by HHS.
Health Updates on Influenza — Recommendations for enhanced surveillance, diagnostic evaluation, and infection control precautions for avian influenza A.
