The Air Mobility Command surgeon general's office reminds overseas travelers of the risks involved with foreign travel caused by the threat of the avian flu.

Avian flu is an infectious disease in birds caused by the type H5N1 strains of the influenza virus, according to the World Health Organization. While these flu viruses occur naturally among wild birds, the current form is especially, contagious in domesticated chickens, ducks and turkeys.

The current risk to Americans from the Asian bird flu outbreak is low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The strain of virus found in Asia and Europe has not been found in the United States.

The CDC said the spread of avian influenza viruses from one ill person to another is rare and has not been observed to continue beyond one person.

But there is still a slight risk to travelers. AMC officials said understanding the risks is the first step to prevention.

“Travel to areas with cited cases -- in particular Asian nations -- should be undertaken with an understanding of the risks of potential infection,” said Chief Master Sgt. Peggy Kerns of the surgeon general’s public health section.

“Special caution should be applied to frequenting live animal markets and poultry farms in these regions,” she said.

In addition, the chief reminds people that when handling and cooking fresh poultry, it’s essential to always wash hands and surfaces that come in contact with meat.

World Health Organization experts said although the virus can cause large numbers of deaths in these birds, there have been few transmissions to humans and human deaths from the disease are rare. Also, they said there have been no sustained human-to-human transmissions.

The State Department reported that since mid-2003, outbreaks of avian influenza in birds have been confirmed in Southeast Asian countries and Russia. It has also been detected in birds in European countries. This prompted the permanent removal of millions of domestic poultry and wild fowl from the affected countries.

Infected birds pass flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions and droppings, according to the CDC. Between 2003 and 2005, a few laboratory-confirmed bird-to-human infections of the avian influenza were reported, but only in Asian nations.

The CDC believes that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from direct contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces, largely involving people who work in bird farms.