In view of confirmed human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) have been reported in Vietnam and Thailand, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States has issued an interim guidance intended to assist airline flight crews and personnel meeting passengers arriving from areas with avian influenza. The detail of the guidance can be found in the CDC website:

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/avian_flu_ig_airlines_021804.htm

While the sections relating to the US agencies/ organizations are not applicable to the local setting, most of the other content can be used as guidance. Please disseminate the above information to your members. If you have any enquiries, please contact our Duty Port Health Officer at 2182 1303.

Thank you for your kind attention and cooperation in this matter.

Yours sincerely, (Dr. C.H. Chu) for Chief Port Health Officer, Department of Health