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Pandemic influenzaYou are here: Pandemic influenza > Guidelines and Advice > For travellers For travellers A number of countries in Asia and Europe have, or are experiencing outbreaks of, avian influenza (bird flu), affecting mainly domestic poultry (chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys). Many different wild bird species have also been affected. The virus responsible for the current outbreak is H5N1 - a type of influenza not normally associated with human disease. It is affecting or known to have affected poultry in Asia and Europe. Officials in many affected countries have been culling flocks of chickens and/or vaccinating well birds to try to contain the virus. Other parts of the world may become affected in the future. Small numbers of people in some of these countries have become infected with the H5N1 virus, causing serious illness and/or death. These people have been infected through contact with infected birds. It is possible that there have been rare instances of limited human to human transmission in very unusual circumstances. A number of factors including the rapid spread of the illness in poultry flocks, difficulties with surveillance and reporting systems and the trade in poultry and fighting birds between farms, breeders and countries, suggest that all travellers to these affected countries should be aware of the outbreaks and the following advice. Travelling from New Zealand
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