What is the risk to people in the United States from the H5N1 bird flu outbreak overseas?
The strain of H5N1 virus found overseas has not been found in the United States, or anywhere else in North or South America. It is possible that travelers returning from affected countries in Asia could be infected if they were exposed to the virus as a result of direct contact with infected poultry (at a live poultry market, for example) or with a person infected with avian flu. Since February 2004, medical and public health professionals have been on alert to find any such cases, but there have been no bird or human cases of H5N1 flu in the United States. For more information on travel to countries affected by avian flu visit http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/ avian_influenza_se_asia_2005.
