NEW YORK, Jun 30 (Reuters Health) -- Tourists over age 65 and those with chronic diseases -- such as diabetes, heart or lung disease -- planning to tour Alaska and the Yukon Territory this summer should be prescribed antiviral medication and warned to look out for flu symptoms, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised on Tuesday.
The health advisory follows a report of 388 cases of acute respiratory infection with cough and fever that occurred between May 22 and June 21 in those areas. The CDC notes that laboratory evidence suggests that influenza A virus is largely the cause of these illnesses.
"To date, no deaths have been reported; however, four tourists have been hospitalized for pneumonia," according to a CDC statement.
The federal agency notes that, similar to last year's influenza A outbreak in the same region, the flu "appears to be transmitted mainly during the land portion of travel among tourists on combination land and sea tours, as well as among tourist industry workers."
CDC officials note that flu vaccine supply is limited in the US from June to September. Antiviral medications such as amantadine or rimantadine "play an important role in the prevention and treatment of influenza" during this period. These drugs can reduce flu duration if they are taken within 48 hours of symptom onset.
More information is available on the CDC website: www.cdc.gov/travel/june99.htm.
