Safety advisory for Middle East travellers

The Department of Health has sent out a safety advisory to anyone travelling to the Middle East due to a serious respiratory illness of unknown cause affecting people in that region.

Known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) the outbreak was first reported in 2012 and has affected nine countries to date. The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating the global response to this emerging virus according to the International Health Regulations.

Risk to individual travellers is still considered to be “very low”.

Travellers to this area who have a pre-existing major medical condition (eg chronic diseases such as diabetes or chronic bronchitis, immunodeficiency) should be aware that these conditions can increase the likelihood of medical problems, including MERS-CoV infection, during travel.  

As a result, travellers should consult a health care provider before travelling to review the risk and assess whether making the journey is medically advisable. Travellers can take the following steps:

• wash hands often with soap and water. When hands are not visibly dirty, a hand rub can be used; 

• adhere to good food safety practices, such as avoiding undercooked meat or food prepared under unsanitary conditions, and properly washing fruits and vegetables before eating them;

• maintain good personal hygiene; 

• and avoid unnecessary contact with farm, domestic, and wild animals. 

Travelers who develop respiratory infection during their trip (especially infection accompanied by fever, coughing or shortness of breath) or other symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhoea, should be advised to do the following: 

• minimize their contact with others to keep from infecting them; 

• cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and discard the tissue in the trash after use and wash hands afterwards, or, if this is not possible, to cough or sneeze into upper sleeves of their clothing, but not their hands; 

• and report to the medical staff accompanying the group or to the local health services. 

Travellers returning to Bermuda should be advised that if they develop acute febrile respiratory illness during the two weeks after their return, they should seek medical attention and immediately notify their local health authority.