Swine Flu – Advice for those Planning or Taking a Gap Year

Introduction.  Swine flu is usually a mild condition and gap year participants, who are generally healthy people, should have nothing to fear should they contract the virus.

The Symptoms. If you are ill with a fever or influenza like illness (ILI), i.e. temperature in excess of 38°C (100.4°F) plus at least two additional symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills or fatigue, you may have swine flu, also known as ‘pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza'.

Essential Action.  If you are in the process of planning your gap year then travel health insurance has never been more important.  You should make sure you are covered from the moment you make your first payment towards your gap year program.

What if you get swine flu?

Before you travel.  If you get the flu before you are due to travel you can expect it to take between five and seven days before you will be clear of the symptoms.  You will only need to alert your gap year organisation and your insurance company if it seems that it you might not be recovered before your departure date.

When you are due to travel. If you get the flu as you are about to travel then you should delay your travel.

• You are more likely to recover quicker in the comfort of your own home.
• It is unfair to place your fellow travellers at risk of contracting the disease and it is quite possible that you will be prevented flying by your airline or placed in quarantine on arrival.
• You should inform your insurance company, who will require you to obtain a certificate from your doctor stating that you are unfit to travel because you have an ILI.
• You should also inform your gap year organisation so that new arrangements can be initiated.
• If you are planning to travel with a friend and they get flu and you do not, it is unlikely that your insurance company will reimburse you should you decide to cancel.  Do talk to your insurance company but be prepared to travel alone and to loiter for a few days until your friend is able to join you.

On arrival at the departure airport. If you develop flu like symptoms on your way to the airport you may find that some airlines are checking passengers for high temperatures prior to departure.  If you are found to have a temperature the airline can refuse to allow you to board.  However first they are required to have you checked by a member of the airport's medical staff .  If you are deemed to have an ILI, you will be given a certificate stating you are unfit to travel.  Your insurance company will require this.  Inform your gap year organisation as soon as possible.

On arrival at your destination airport. It may be that you develop flu like symptoms while in the air.  Some countries are checking all passengers for a high temperature on arrival.  If you are found to have such a temperature you may be taken into quarantine, as has happened recently with a group of British students visiting China.

The chances are that your gap year organisation will have arranged for you to be met at the airport.  You should try and get word to them so that they can keep in touch and do what they can to support you until you are ready to continue with your gap year program.

You should advise your insurance company so that they can authorise any medical treatment.  However you should not expect them to compensate you for the time away from your project.

On your gap year program.  If you go down with an ILI while on your gap year program, your gap year organisation should have plans in place to ensure that you are properly cared for.  They should also help you contact your insurance company should you need medical treatment - the chances are that you will not.

Research & Planning

Country Information. The swine flu pandemic is being managed globally by the World Health Organisation (WHO).  It is WHO policy that international borders should remain open while this pandemic runs its course.

At the time of writing (July 2009) the UK is one of the most prevalent countries for the spread of swine flu along with the USA, Canada and Mexico.  You are therefore less likely to contract the disease on your travels than if you stay at home.  However the situation could change quite quickly.

Visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's (FCO) website and use the travel advice section to research the country you are planning to visit.  There is information on how swine flu is affecting each country together with information how each country is managing the pandemic.  You can keep up to date by asking to be put on the FCO's e-mail alert for the country you plan to visit. This is covered in more detail on the FCO's website page that is devoted to swine flu.

Insurance. As explained at the start of this piece, this pandemic really emphasizes the importance of obtaining travel health insurance at the same time as you book the first element of your gap year program.  When you receive the policy document take the time to read the small print and then check with the insurance company if you have any concerns.  More general advice on insurance.

Gap Year Organisations.  Year Out Group's member organisations started contingency planning for a flu pandemic in 2005 when there was concern about Avian Flu so they should be well prepared to answer your questions about swine flu.  In particular they should have plans in place to ensure that you are properly looked after should you go down with an ILI while on your placement.

Medicines.

• It would be worth consulting your local pharmacist or travel health clinic as to which medicines you should take with you.
• The general advice is to pack some paracetamol based anti-viral products, some waterless alcohol based hand gel and/or some packets of antiseptic wipes.
• Much mention has been made of Tamiflu in the media.  Tamiflu does not stop you from contracting swine flu.  It is designed to help alleviate the symptoms once you start to get the virus.  At best it speeds recovery by about 24 hours.  It is unlikely to be offered to people that are generally healthy.  It may be offered to certain groups of people who are deemed to be more at risk.  A list of these can be found on the Interhealth website.
• The availability of Tamiflu overseas varies from country to country so consult your gap year organisation if you fall into one of the at risk categories.  The vast majority of people will do best to limit themselves to standard anti-viral medicines and let the virus take its course.

Protective Measures. There is advice on how best to avoid swine flu and more advice on swine flu in general at a number of websites including:

• Department of Health.
• National Health Service
• Health Protection Agency
• National Travel Health Network and Clinic

Read the latest updates on Swine Flu provided by the National Travel Health Network & Clinics (NaTHNaC).

Year Out Group - 3rd August 2009

 

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