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Updated: May 14, 2009

Possible International Travel Delays Due to Novel H1N1 Flu Screening Procedures
This is a U.S. Government inter-agency Web site managed by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released the following report on 5/13:
This information is current as of today, May 13, 2009 at 17:18 EDT

Current Situation:
Due to the outbreak of novel H1N1 flu occurring in the United States and many other countries, airport staff in some countries may check the health of arriving passengers. Many countries, including Japan and China, are screening arriving passengers for illness due to novel H1N1 flu. These health screenings are being used to prevent the spread of novel H1N1 flu.

If you are sick with symptoms of influenza-like illness you should not travel. These symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Travelers should be aware that since the novel H1N1 flu outbreak is occurring in the United States, flights from the United States arriving in other countries may be specifically targeted for screening.
United States travelers may be checked for fever and other symptoms of novel H1N1 flu and their travel may be delayed.

If you travel internationally from the United States, you may be asked to:

• Pass through a scanning device that checks your temperature (the device may look like an airport metal detector, a camera, or a handheld device)
• Have your temperature taken with an oral or ear thermometer
• Fill out a sheet of questions about your health
• Be quarantined for a period of time if a passenger on your flight is found to have symptoms of novel H1N1 flu

And, if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms, you may be asked to:

• Have a medical examination
• Take a rapid flu test which consists of a nasal swab sample
• Be isolated if you are showing signs of respiratory illness consistent with novel H1N1 flu

CDC strongly encourages all passengers to cooperate with these procedures. Please note that the U.S. Department of State usually cannot interfere with the right of other countries to screen airline passengers entering or exiting their countries. Please consult the embassy of the country you will be traveling to for further information about entry screening procedures (see Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions for contact information).

Updates to this notice will be posted as information becomes available.

Avian Influenza Information
CDC Avian Influenza Update, 08/23/07