The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Wednesday increased a travel alert warning for Tianjin, China, to level 2 “alert,” advising those planning to visit the coastal metropolis to take enhanced precautions against H7N9 influenza, or avian flu.
The CDC said it had informed the Mainland Affairs Council, the Cabinet-level agency responsible for handling affairs related to China, of the increase.
Under the three-tier travel advisory system, the level 2 “alert” urges travelers planning to visit affected areas to heighten their vigilance, maintain good personal hygiene, avoid contact with poultry and birds, avoid visiting live poultry markets, and consume only thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs in order to avoid infection.
The other two levels are the level 1 “watch,” which urges travelers planning to visit affected areas to take usual precautions and the level 3 “warning,” which warns against non-essential travel.
The CDC also urged anyone who develops flu-like symptoms after returning from overseas to wear a surgical mask, seek immediate medical attention, and inform a doctor of any international travel or exposure to poultry or birds to facilitate diagnosis and treatment.
A total of 109 cases of H7N9 influenza infections have been confirmed in China since autumn last year, the CDC said.
The CDC has issued a level 2 “alert” for avian flu in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Anhui, Hunan,, Fujian, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Shandong, Hubei and Hebei provinces and Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin cities, and level 1 for all other provinces and cities in China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau.
WHO statistics showed that since 2013, 786 cases of H7N9 influenza infections have been confirmed worldwide, with 306 fatalities, the CDC said.
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