Influenza Guidelines and Recommendations

UNWTO compiled the experiences and challenges the sector has made and identified in a report, ¨Towards a Safer World: The Travel, Tourism and Aviation Sector¨, which you can find here.

H1N1:

The World Health Organization (WHO), leading the international effort to respond to the risks of the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, has declared on 10 August 2010 that the world is now in the post-pandemic period concerning the Pandemic (H1N1) virus. While the level of concern is now greatly diminished, vigilance on the part of national health authorities remains important. Such vigilance is especially critical in the immediate post-pandemic period, when the behaviour of the (H1N1) 2009 virus as a seasonal virus cannot be reliably predicted.

It is important to highlight the fact that WHO does not recommend any travel restrictions. However, regardless of whether the world is in a pandemic situation or not, influenza viruses pose a risk of disease to many individuals and therefore, individuals should take prudent steps to reduce their risk of infection. For further Information see the WHO recommendations (English- French- Spanish- Russian- Arabic).

Avian Influenza/H5N1:

Avian influenza, or “bird flu”, is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. Avian influenza viruses are highly species-specific, but have, on rare occasions, crossed the species barrier to infect humans.

In domestic poultry, infection with avian influenza viruses causes two main forms of disease, distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence. The so-called “low pathogenic” form commonly causes only mild symptoms (ruffled feathers, a drop in egg production) and may easily go undetected. The highly pathogenic form is far more dramatic. It spreads very rapidly through poultry flocks, causes disease affecting multiple internal organs, and has a mortality that can approach 100%, often within 48 hours.

Regarding the Avian Influenza virus, the WHO states that the virus currently continues to circulate in poultry in some countries, especially in Asia and northeast Africa.

This virus continues to cause sporadic human infections with some instances of limited human-to-human transmission among very close contacts. There has been no sustained human-to-human or community-level transmission identified thus far.

For further information, please refer to the following links:

Ten Things You Need to Know about Pandemic Influenza according to the WHO.

WHO Advice to Travellers

Options Turing a Pandemicby U.S. Department of State

The following links provide a first overview of guidelines and other similar documents related to the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and Avian Influenza:

 

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO):

UNWTO Conclusions and Recommendations from the Review and Preparation Exercises for Africa, Europe and Middle East (English- French- Spanish- Russian- Arabic)

UNWTO Conclusions and Recommendations from the Review and Preparation Exercises for the Americas (English- French- Spanish- Russian- Arabic)

UNWTO Travel and Tourism under Pandemic Conditions: Review and Preparation Exercise Report

 

Documents Prepared by the Travel and Tourism Sector:

The following guidelines have been used during the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and are a good example of how the industry requires practical and feasible guidance adjusted to the concrete challenges they are facing. Please indicate other documents of relevance to rcm@unwto.org. All documents reflect the views of their respective authors and not necessarily the views of UNWTO.

  • H1N1 Influenza Management in Hotels (AH&LA) English
  • Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 for Hotels and Tourism Establishments (CEHAT) English- Spanish
  • Cruise Industry Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (CLIA) English

Generic Links for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises:

  •  A Preparedness Guide for Small Businesses (FLU.gov) English
  •  Business Continuity Management 2008 (Chartered Management Institute) English
  •  Flyer: Protecting Your Employees from Pandemic Human Influenza (ILO) English
  •  Action Manual for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ILO) English– Francais– Español– Lao– Japanese– Khmer– Vietnamese- Thai
  • Business Continuity Management Toolkit (HM Government) English

Specific Links:

Cleaning and Hygiene Procedures:

  • Food Contact Surface and Equipment Procedures (NRA) English
  •  Furniture and Fixtures Procedures (NRA) English

Entry Points for Pandemic H1N1:

  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  •  European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
  • The Influenza Training Digital Library (WHO)

Recommendations:

  • WHO recommendations about vaccination to immunize from Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 can be obtained on the WHO homepage (English- French).
  • Additional information can also be obtained on the WHO's International Travel and Health book, Chapter 9 (English)- (French).