Travel industry readies for second H1N1 round

A US advisory panel has issued conflicting reports on likely infection levels.

Travel Insurance News - 03/09/2009

<< Important to book holidays with bonded agent | Travel News | Britons head beyond eurozone on holiday >>

The White House panel issued an initial report indicating that from 60-120 million people could fall ill due to the H1N1 virus over the coming autumn and winter, and that there could be as many as 90,000 fatalities. Just a day later, the projections were called highly unlikely by the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It seems that the best advice for travellers at this time is for them to take the appropriate precautions rather than avoiding travel. They are being advised that changes in cruise itineraries and flight schedules are possible due to infections.

Dr. Mark Gendreau, who is an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, said: “There’s good news and bad news with H1N1,” adding: “The bad news is that there’s the potential that 30-50 percent of the U.S. population could develop flu-like symptoms. The good news is that from a pandemic-preparedness standpoint, the government has really gotten its act together.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported recently that H1N1 infection rates are in decline in North America, in Europe and in much of the southern hemisphere – with the exception of tropical Asia, where infection rates are on the rise.

<< Important to book holidays with bonded agent | Travel News | Britons head beyond eurozone on holiday >>