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For many Asian cultures it is a long held tradition that people return home to attend a reunion dinner with their families on the eve of the lunar New Year, which this year falls on February 1st.
In Korea it is called Seollal.
In Vietnam, it is called Tết Nguyên Đán or Feast of the First Morning. Tết for short.
In China, it is called Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, or Chunyun; The Spring Festival.
But by whatever name, the lunar new year is the most important holiday in all of Asia. And this annual return to one’s home traditionally sparks the largest human migration on the planet.
But, for the third year in a row, Chunyun falls under the cloud of the COVID pandemic.
Several large Chinese cities (Xi'an, Anyang, and Tianjin) are currently under lockdown due to COVID, and many cities have urged citizens to avoid travel over the upcoming Lunar New Year. The Winter Olympics, hosted by Beijing and scheduled to start February 4th, will only be open to to domestic tourists; not international ones.
Despite these restrictions, millions of people across Asia are expected to travel during this holiday period - both internationally and domestically - and that not only risks spreading the Omicron variant, it may also exacerbate the spread of other infectious diseases, especially seasonal flu.
Far less likely - but still a legitimate concern - is the risk of contracting avian flu, particularly in China.
Although reporting by China has been spotty, we are aware of at least 31 human infections with H5N6 in China during 2021 (see map at top of blog). While a record number of cases, this is still likely to be an undercount.
Despite reduced travel this year - particularly to China - and admittedly low odds of contracting avian flu, the UK's Health Security Agency has published the following reminder to those who expect to travel to China, and other parts of Asia, during this holiday period.
Avian flu: Advice for Travellers over Lunar New Year
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding travellers of the risk of avian flu when travelling to China for the Lunar New Year.
From:UK Health Security Agency Published 12 January 2022
Last updated12 January 2022 — See all updates
The Lunar New Year begins on Tuesday 1 February 2022 and ends with the Lantern Festival on 15 February 2022.
Travellers should be aware of the risk of avian flu when travelling to China during the annual festival.
A record number of human cases with avian flu (H5N6) have been reported from China with onset in 2021, with over 20 cases occurring last year. Before 2021, the largest number of cases of avian flu in China was in 2016 when 9 human cases of infection were reported.
Most cases reported by China have involved close contact with an infected bird. Transmission can occur through contact with dead or alive birds and markets where live birds are sold can be a source of infection. China has not reported any spread of H5N6 from person to person.
Though the risk to the UK public is very low, UKHSA and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) are reminding UK travellers to mainland China to protect themselves from avian flu by minimising exposure to wild birds and poultry while in China.
Dr Gavin Dabrera, a Consultant in Acute Respiratory Infections at UKHSA, said:
Anyone visiting China should avoid exposure to any birds in ‘wet markets’ as a precaution and maintain good hand hygiene while travelling.Avian influenza remains a risk in China and if travellers experience any flu like symptoms within 10 days of returning from China, they should call their GP or NHS 111 and report their recent travel activity. These symptoms are similar to coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, so informing their GP or NHS 111 about their recent travel is important.UKHSA has arrangements in place to deal with emerging diseases. This includes the detection and investigation of suspected cases, and the management of confirmed cases and their contacts.
Travellers can check NaTHNaC’s TravelHealthPro website for current travel health recommendations for:
China
Hong Kong SARMacaoTaiwanTibet
UK Health Security Agency press office
So far, avian influenza remains primarily a threat to those who have direct contact with infected birds, and has not yet learned to spread easily from human-to-human.
But, as we saw with SARS-CoV-2, sometimes virus transmissibility can go from 0 to 60 overnight, and with little to no warning. Hence the warnings for travelers to be vigilant.
