If you are planning to travel to countries in Europe or Asia, its important to have knowledge on how to protect yourself from contracting or being infected with the bird flu virus. These countries have experienced illness related to the bird flu, and understanding how to avoid potentially contracting bird flu can make a vacation much more enjoyable. If you are visiting areas where many birds interact, it would be a good idea to do alternate planning to avoid contact with these birds due to the fact that birds are carriers of the h5n1 virus. It is also a good idea to avoid open air markets as these areas usually tend to be breading grounds for such viruses. Make sure not to touch egg shells as they often are contaminated by bird droppings and this is a common way in which humans contract the bird flu. Make sure to wash your hands frequently, as this is one of the most common ways to avoid infection of illness. If you are feeling sick see a doctor right away. Be sure to cough and sneeze into tissues and napkins, this prevents the spread and transfer of viruses. If you were curious for more information on how to better prevent yourself from contracting the bird flu while on vacation, logging on the the world health organization’s website, www.who.int can give you some great tips and recommendations on avoiding the bird flu. Doing proper research and planning is a useful way to prepare yourself an potentially prevent contracting viruses while vacationing in other countries.