The WHO (World Health Organization) make an announcement and publish the most recent update on Influenza A (H1N1) on18 May 2009 -- As of 06:00 GMT, 18 May 2009, 40 countries have officially reported 8829 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 74 deaths.

In light of the most recent updates from WHO, it seemed the influenza still not under fully control yet and certainly the global numbers have increased a lot, many countries implemented the quarantining policy for any passengers exhibiting flu like symptoms or passengers that may have been in contact with a passenger that tested positive for Influenza A. The common flu will not be quarantined after diagnosed negative for Influenza A. I am fully support the decision and response from Center Government on pandemic disease control. The China government’s response on H1N1 was recognized by WHO and the practice was widely adopted by many other countries.

Many international travelers either exhibiting flu like symptoms or took the same flights/ vehicle with the potential suspicious H1N1 individual, upon they check in the custom clearance, will be quarantined for 7 days. For some special purpose, many emotional reports come out from several “professional” newspaper, the Mexican government even placed a warning to all Mexican nationals asking them to postpone or delay any travel to China at this time due to the way the China government has handled the crisis, to me, this is emotional statement from the Mexican Government Official. 

Is there anything wrong with China government’s response? NO! The WHO announced the Influenza response moved from phase 3 to Phase 4, then very soon moved to Phase 5. So far the WHO did not recognize Phase 6 yet which is a good news, but who know the Phase 6 maybe announced very soon. No one worry about Influenza 40 days ago, see what happened now!!!  Any, any, I said ANY country will did exactly same way as China government when they facing those kind crisis.

To help international travelers make their travel more easier and meaningful, I introduce custom clearance practice below (so far as I know), then you can better plan your travel to avoid unnecessary deplay/interupt to your business.

First:  If you are travelling to China and you have less than 7 days prior to travelling I recommend that you self-screen for as long as possible and then continue to self-screen for the remaining days (up to 7 days) in China. This will create a little bit trouble and extra effort to you but if you respect other’s health living right, it means a lot. You can early identify the potential symptoms and protect your family and others. If you do not other infected person come to affect you, then most like other persons may have same thinking, please do it.

Second: What is the current situation when I entry China from customs clearance?  I have to adopt that the information from the Chinese government is sketchy at best as no formal statement has been made or published for quarantining policy. So far as I know, part of the measures that have been enacted by the China authorities since the H1N1 flu outbreak have included the denial of any visas for American and Mexican nationals who do not have a valid Chinese visa in their passport and the quarantining for about 7 days any Canadian, Mexican and American nationals who come to China having existing valid visas in their passports.  Quarantining can result for any passengers exhibiting flu like symptoms or passengers that may have been in contact with a passenger that tested positive for Influenza A H1N1.

If you have an existing valid visa for China, then it is possible for you to travel to China, however the risk remains that you may be quarantined for up to 7 days upon arrival in China whether you exhibits flu like symptoms or not.

If you are an American and have a valid Z visa to enter China but has traveled to Mexico in within the prior 30 days, will be treated like any other American entering China. You could be quarantined if you are unfortunate enough to arrive on an airplane that has a passenger on board who tested positive for the virus.  I believe many company policy requires their employees to self quarantine for 7 days before traveling, which you will do it in the US. 

When you arrive in China, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire.  This questionnaire will ask about current physical condition along with any present symptoms plus ask about the your travel history.  On top of that, there will be a temperature screening.  If you have a travel history to Mexico over the past 30 days, although you might not exhibit any flu symptoms, it is possible that you may be quarantined for up to seven days solely based on your travel history.  Although this is highly unlikely if there has been a significant time period between your time in Mexico and your trip to China.  It is however important to note that American nationals may also be quarantined as they are coming from an affected country (the USA).  Unfortunately since this “policy” has not been clearly spelled out by the local authorities it is difficult to obtain a clear answer and the risk of quarantining remains.

At the present, the actions taken by the health authorities change on a daily basis (especially as there is increasing human to human transmission of the virus), so it is difficult to predict how it will play out when you arrives in China. So, knock on wood….

The risk of quarantining remains if the traveler may have been in contact with someone who tested positive for Influenza A/H1N1.

The quarantining is nothing related with your nationality but with the criteria and fact.

Third: Is the world will move to Phase 6?

So far there is no evidence to say that the world is ready to go into a Phase 6. Before move to Phase 6, WHO need clear evidence to approve it sustained community level, person to person transmission. It has been proved that the H1N1 spread between person to person but can not confirm it will spread community to community. I hope we can control the situation before Phase 6, to consider the worst scenario (move to Phase 6), I don’t know how many million persons will die and the world economy may step back several years… That is the reason I am personally fully support central government on Influenza A control, we can not afford for the worst result.

I hope that I explained H1N1 clearly, should this blog make you understand more about China government’s response and you start to care about yourself and persons around you, I am not waste one hour to type in front of the screen.

Above statement is my personal opinion, I am not responsible for and not intend to influence your business, so I will not responsible for any loss/damage arising from use of above information and recommendations.