Information for Travelers

• Know when you should avoid travel. If you are sick with symptoms of influenza-like illness, you should not travel.
• Be prepared for health screenings at airports. Airport staff in some countries may check the health of arriving passengers.
• You can prepare for travel by educating yourself about the outbreak situation and screening procedures in your destination country or countries.
• Know what to do during and after your trip. During your trip, follow local guidelines and practice healthy habits.

When Should I Avoid Travel?

• If you are sick with symptoms of influenza-like illness, you should not travel. These symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
• Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100°F or 37.8°C) or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®).

Health Screenings at Airports

• Due to the outbreak of H1N1 (Swine) flu occurring in the United States and many other countries, airport staff in some countries may check the health of arriving passengers. Travelers from the United States arriving in other countries may be checked for fever and other symptoms of H1N1 flu, and their travel may be delayed.
• When you travel internationally from the United States, officials in other countries may ask you to:
  

  Pass through a scanning device that checks your temperature. (The device may look like an airport metal detector, a camera, or a handheld device.)

  Have your temperature taken with an oral or ear thermometer

  Fill out a sheet of questions about your health

  Review information about the symptoms of H1N1 flu

  Give your address, phone number, and other contact information

  Be quarantined for a period of time if a passenger on your flight is found to have symptoms of H1N1 flu

  Contact health authorities in the country you are visiting to let them know if you become ill

• If you have a fever or respiratory symptoms or are suspected to have H1N1 flu based on screening, you may be asked to:
  

  Be isolated from other people until you are well

  Have a medical examination

  Take a rapid flu test (which consists of a nasal swab sample)

  Be hospitalized and given medical treatment, if you test positive for H1N1 flu

• Please note that the U.S. Department of State usually cannot interfere with the rights of other countries to screen airline passengers entering or exiting their countries, nor can it influence the number of days in quarantine.
• Many countries, including Japan and China, are screening arriving passengers for illness due to H1N1 flu. These health screenings are being used to reduce the spread of H1N1 flu.