Do I need to worry about avian/bird flu when I travel to Wakatobi?
The simple answer is no for several reason. Let us explain. In recent news reports, you may have heard warnings or concerns about the avian flu and travel to Southeast Asia. While there is concern in regards to the avian flu, the great majority of concern is directed toward the possibility of the flu mutating into something that could spread from human to human. To this date, that has not happened. Here are some facts: Avian Influenza H5N1 (bird flu) is not a human epidemic. Travelers or tourists have never died of bird flu in Asia. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov) has not recommended that the public avoid travel to any of the countries affected by the bird flu. The CDC does recommend sensible precautions when traveling abroad. Most of the known cases of bird flu involve farmers and livestock workers in direct contact with poultry, so avoid touching chickens and ducks (even those that appear healthy) and surfaces that might be contaminated with poultry feces or secretions
