Flu (seasonal influenza): Travel health advice
Seasonal influenza, often referred to as the flu, is a contagious viral respiratory illness.
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Risk to travellers
The flu is present worldwide.
Flu season usually runs from November to March in the northern hemisphere, and from April to October in the southern hemisphere.
Flu circulates year-round in the tropics.
Check the travel advice and advisories page for your destination before travelling:
Travel advice and advisories by destination
Recommendations
Before your trip
Talk to a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before travelling to get personalized health advice. Even if your travel date is coming up soon, it's still worthwhile to make an appointment.
There are things you can do to protect yourself and others from the flu.
- Get your annual flu vaccine (flu shot) at least 2 weeks before travelling.
- It generally takes about 2 weeks for immunity to develop after vaccination.
- Avoid travelling if you have flu-like symptoms.
- Be aware that flu vaccines in Canada may not be effective against current flu strains in the southern hemisphere.
- Similarly, flu vaccines in the southern hemisphere may not protect you from current flu strains in Canada.
Learn more:
During your trip
Use personal protective measures during your trip to help protect yourself from getting infected with a respiratory infectious disease, like the flu. Examples include:
- wearing a well-fitting respirator or mask in situations where respiratory illnesses are more likely to spread
- higher-risk settings include crowded places like airports or train stations
- cleaning your hands regularly with soap and water or with hand sanitizer when soap and water aren't available
Additional advice is available on the measures you can use to protect yourself and your family.
Respiratory infectious diseases: Reduce your risk with personal protective measures
If you become sick during or after your trip
If you develop flu symptoms while travelling, stay at your accommodations and limit contact with others. If you must be around others, you should use personal protective measures to help reduce the risk of spreading illness. This includes:
- wearing a well-fitting respirator or mask
- covering your coughs and sneezes
- cleaning your hands regularly
Respiratory infectious diseases: Reduce your risk with personal protective measures
Contact a health care provider for advice if you're:
- at higher risk of flu complications
- concerned about flu symptoms that develop after your trip
Before going to an in-person appointment, call ahead and tell them about your:
- symptoms
- recent travel history
They may advise you on how to prevent spreading the flu to others.
Learn more: