To ensure health protection of oneself and others, the Committee on Health Promotion and Protection would like to recommend all staff and students to exercise good personal hygiene and observe the following preventive measures:

Before the trip

• Carefully watch out for the latest developments and special measures adopted for human swine influenza locally and over the area, cities and countries that you are travelling to.
• Visit related websites, e.g. Centre for Health Protection (CHP), World Health Organization (WHO), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to know the current health situation of the area you intend to visit and pay attention to travel notice and health recommendations.
• Check your own body temperature for 7 days prior departure and bring along the record.
• Postpone your trip if you have flu symptoms or fever. Wear a mask and seek medical attention.
• Bring along a pack containing adequate surgical masks, alcohol-based hand cleaners, alcohol-containing tissues and a thermometer for taking own temperature.
• Check if you are adequately covered by medical insurance and the emergency contact number of the insurance company.
• Find out the emergency contact points and phone numbers at your destinations.

During the trip

• Maintain good personal hygiene habits, e.g. hand hygiene and cough manners, during travel.
• Comply with local public health guidelines.
• Consider putting on a mask when going to crowded places.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• When visiting affected area, wear a mask, check body temperature daily and keep a record.
• When symptoms of respiratory tract infection and fever develop, seek medical attention promptly.

Returning to Hong Kong

• Postpone your trip if you develop flu symptoms or fever.
• If you develop symptoms while on board, put on a mask and notify the crew who will inform the port health team to follow up on landing.
• Closely monitor health condition after return from an affected area. Wear a mask, check and record body temperature for 7 days.
• If fever and upper respiratory symptoms appear, seek medical consultation promptly at any of the Designated Flu Clinics. (http://www.ha.org.hk/haho/ho/cc/8dfc.pdf).

Please also refer to Advice for Risk Assessment on Organising Activities Outside Hong Kong.

Useful information:

• Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, HKSAR
• World Health Organization
• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 June 2009