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Warden Message: Kabul Bird Flu Outbreak
Consular Affairs Bulletins
South / Central Asia - Afghanistan
20 Apr 2007

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U.S. Embassy Kabul issued the following Warden Message on April 20, 2007:

Avian Influenza Update

The Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture’s Veterinarian Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed three positive cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza (AI) strain in the Karte Char (4)/Seh area of Kabul City on April 17, 2007. Following the confirmation of these cases, the Afghan Ministries of Agriculture and Public Health took appropriate measures. The major pattern of bird deaths/infections in Afghanistan appears to be primarily centered on the bird markets.

The Embassy continues to work closely with Afghanistan authorities and locally-based international health organizations to monitor events and will share information with the American Community as it becomes available.

We remind all American citizens of previous recommendations issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You should avoid contact with live poultry and wild birds, and avoid visiting commercial or backyard poultry farms and live poultry markets. You can also minimize risk by practicing safe handling procedures for all poultry products, including thoroughly cooking food and decontaminating cutting boards and kitchen utensils. Well-cooked eggs and poultry products are safe to consume (temperatures above 70 degrees Celsius kill the virus). You should also be cautious about consuming salad dressings and sauces that contain raw egg products.

* Note that birds die regularly from many diseases, and that a fallen bird may or may not have AI. Report unusual numbers of bird deaths to either the Provincial Veterinarian or the Central Government’s Ministry of Agriculture’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Azizullah Osmani (0700-272-523). If you can, either bury the bird or seal it in a plastic bag and deliver it to the Department of Veterinary Services’ Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Kabul’s Darulaman neighborhood. When disposing of a bird by either manner, wear gloves; do not touch the bird, its feathers, or its fluids with bare skin; and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.

Current information about avian influenza A (H5N1) and pandemic influenza can be found at:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/qa.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/travel
http://www.who.int
http://www.pandemicflu.gov

For additional information on avian influenza as it affects American citizens residing abroad, see the U.S. Department of State’s Avian Influenza Fact Sheet at http://travel.state.gov .

Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s internet website where the current Travel Warnings, Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement and Consular Information Sheets can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available (from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday except U.S. federal holidays.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul encourages Americans traveling to Afghanistan to register through the State Department’s travel registration website and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Afghanistan. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy. The U.S. Embassy is located in Kabul on Great Massoud Road, local phone number 0700-108-001 or 0700-108-002, and for emergencies after hours 0700-201-908. The website is http://kabul.usembassy.gov .