AVIAN INFLUENZA FACT SHEET AND FREQUENTLY ASKED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 STATE 115971

SIPDIS

SIPDIS - INFORM CONSULS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC KFLU AMED AMGT
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA FACT SHEET AND FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

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1. The Department has completely revised and updated the
Avian Influenza Fact Sheet and FAQs below. Posts are
instructed to:

a. Issue a warden message to the American citizen
community drawing attention to the new information;

b. Engage in active outreach activities at all levels to
disseminate this information;

c. Keep the Department informed of all outreach activities
and report any feedback from the American citizen
community in your host country.


2. In order to make sure that all American citizens
receive the same information about avian influenza, this
fact sheet must not be altered. Posts wishing to submit
additional Frequently Asked Questions should forward them
to CA/OCS/ACS Attn: Elizabeth Ryan and Michelle Bernier-
Toth.


3. The Fact Sheet and FAQs are posted at
www.travel.state.gov and on the CA Intranet site at
http://intranet.ca.state.gov/ . The Fact Sheet and FAQs
may be used in conjunction with the PowerPoint
presentation also located on the CA Intranet site.

4) FACT SHEET: AVIAN INFLUENZA A (H5N1) and PANDEMIC
INFLUENZA

This fact sheet alerts Americans to the Department of
State's preparedness efforts with respect to a possible
influenza pandemic. The Department of State emphasizes
that, in the event of a pandemic, its ability to assist
Americans traveling and residing abroad may be severely
limited by restrictions on local and international
movement imposed for public health reasons, either by
foreign governments and/or the United States.
Furthermore, American citizens should take note that the
Department of State cannot provide Americans traveling or
living abroad with medications or supplies even in the
event of a pandemic.

Background - H5N1 Avian Influenza A

Countries continue to report cases of avian influenza A
(H5N1),commonly referred to as "bird flu" in their
domestic and wild bird populations. In addition,
countries are reporting H5N1 in other wild and domestic
animal populations. A small number of confirmed cases of
H5N1 among humans have been reported, some of which have
resulted in death. More information is available on the
World Health Organization (WHO) website,
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenz a/country/en/
. Please refer to this website for the most up to date
information on the countries affected by H5N1 and the
number of deaths.

The vast majority of the reported human cases have
resulted from direct contact with H5N1-infected poultry.
Although there is evidence to suggest very limited, human-
to-human transmission in family groups involving close
exposure to a critically ill member, there is no evidence
that the virus can be easily or sustainably transmitted
from human-to-human. The U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(DHHS/CDC),the WHO, and the Department of State are
nonetheless concerned about the potential for the virus to
adapt or mutate into a strain that can be easily
transmitted in a sustained manner among humans, a
characteristic that could result in a human influenza

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pandemic, and are working closely with other partners to
prepare for the possibility of pandemic influenza.
Information on the U.S. Government's overall response and
efforts is available at http://www.pandemicflu.gov.

Travel and Avian Influenza A

The Department of State, the DHHS/CDC and the WHO have not
issued any health precautions, travel alerts or warnings
for H5N1 infected areas. However, the DHHS/CDC advises
travelers to H5N1 affected countries to avoid poultry
farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any
surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces or
fluids from poultry or other animals, and to eat only
thoroughly cooked poultry products. American citizens
traveling to or living in H5N1 affected countries should
consider the potential risks and keep informed of the
latest medical guidance and information in order to make
appropriate plans. Specific DHHS/CDC travel information
relating to H5N1, including preventive measures, is
available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm and
http://www.cdc.gov/travel. WHO guidance related to avian
influenza is available at
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenz a/en/.

Additional general country information can be obtained
from the Department of State's Consular Information Sheets
at http://travel.state.gov and embassy and consulate
websites at
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/embas sies/embassie
s_1214.html. You may also call the Department of State's
toll-free number, 1-888-407-4747, or if calling from
overseas, 202-501-4444.

Prevention, Response and Treatment - Take Charge of Your
Plans

A vaccine for humans that is effective in preventing
infection with the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus is not
yet available. Based upon limited data, the DHHS/CDC has
suggested that the anti-viral medication Oseltamivir
(brand name- Tamiflu) may be effective in treating avian
influenza A. U.S. embassies and consulates do not have
supplies of this drug for use by private American citizens
abroad. The Department of State has pre-positioned
supplies of the drug Tamiflu at its embassies and
consulates worldwide, for eligible U.S. Government
employees and their families serving abroad. Americans
should also be aware of the potential health risk posed by
counterfeit drugs, including those represented as Tamiflu,
by scam artists who sell products on the internet or in
countries with lax regulations governing the production
and distribution of pharmaceuticals. For more information
on counterfeit drugs please visit the Food and Drug
Administrations (FDA) questions and answers for
counterfeit drugs at
http://www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/counterfeit /qa.html

In addition, the Department of State has asked its
embassies and consulates to consider preparedness measures
that take into consideration the fact that travel into or
out of a country may not be possible, safe, or medically
advisable during a pandemic. Guidance on how private
citizens can prepare to shelter in place, including
stocking food, water, and medical supplies, is available
at the www.pandemicflu.gov website. Embassy stocks cannot
be made available to private American citizens abroad and
we encourage people living in an area with outbreaks of
H5N1 to prepare appropriately.

It is also likely that governments will respond to a
pandemic by imposing public health measures that restrict
domestic and international movement, further limiting the
U.S. government's ability to assist Americans in these
countries. These measures can be implemented very
quickly. Areas of known H5N1 outbreaks in poultry have

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been quarantined by governments within 24 hours,
restricting (if not preventing) movement into and out of
the affected area.

Americans who are planning travel to a country that has
reported the virus or who are concerned about avian
influenza are advised to monitor the DHHS/CDC and the WHO
websites for the latest information.

CDC Contact Information

Public Inquiries:
English (888) 246-2675
Spanish (888) 246-2857
TTY (866) 874-2646
Mon-Fri 8am-11pm EST
Sat-Sun 10am-8pm EST

Address:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30333
USA (404) 639-3311

Traveler's Website

http://www.cdc.gov/travel

WHO Liaison Office in Washington, DC

Contact Information:
Telephone: (202) 974-3787
Facsimile: (202) 974-3789

Address:
WHO Liaison Office
1889 F Street, N.W., Suite 369
Washington, D.C. 20006 USA

July 2006

Frequently Asked Questions about Avian Influenza A (H5N1)
and Pandemic Influenza

Where can I find up-to-date medical and planning
information on avian influenza A (H5N1) and pandemic
influenza?

Why is the U.S. government not providing Tamiflu) to
private Americans overseas?

What if I get sick when I am in another country? I have a
pre-existing medical condition, is there anything
different I should do? How do I locate a doctor in the
country I am traveling to?

Will the U.S. government evacuate Americans in a foreign
country in the event of a pandemic?

As a private American citizen living overseas, what can I
do today to help prepare myself and my family for possible
bird flu pandemic?

What precautions should I take if I live in or visit an
area affected by H5N1 "bird flu"?

Can my domestic animals get H5N1 "bird flu"?

Where can I find up-to-date medical and planning
information on avian influenza A (H5N1) and pandemic
influenza?

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


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http://www.cdc.gov/travel

http://www.who.int

http://www.pandemicflu.gov

http://www.travel.state.gov

Why isn't the U. S. Government providing Tamiflu) to
private Americans overseas?

The Department of State lacks the legal authority to
provide any type of medication, including Tamiflu, to
private American citizens. State Department physicians and
medical staff have authorization to treat only those
official employees, and their families, who are under
Chief of Mission (the principal officer in charge of a
diplomatic facility of the United States) authority.

What if I get sick when I am outside the U.S.? If I have
a pre existing medical condition, is there anything
different I should do? How do I locate a local doctor
when I am in another country?

Please see the Department's travel tips brochure on health
issues, including the importance of obtaining adequate
medical insurance to cover overseas medical emergencies:
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/healt h/health_1185
.html

If you have preexisting medical problems you should carry
a letter from your physician, describing the medical
condition and any prescription medications, including the
generic name of prescribed drugs.

For a current list of doctors/hospitals in the country to
which you are traveling, please visit the embassy or
consulate website, which can be accessed through
http://usembassy.state.gov/. The list is generally found
under the Embassy or Consulate's link for Consular
Services or American citizen services.

Will the U. S. government evacuate Americans from a
foreign country in the event of a pandemic?

Current medical thinking suggests that sheltering in place
may be the appropriate response to the start of an
influenza pandemic in certain countries or regions. In
this scenario, people would be advised to exercise "social
distancing" and avoid any form of public gathering where
transmission of the disease could occur. Mass transit,
including air travel, is a common venue for human-to-human
transmission of viral infections due to the proximity of
travelers to each other.

Whether the U.S. government evacuates anyone will depend
on a variety of country-specific factors. Each U.S.
embassy and consulate has been asked to develop a
contingency plan in the event of a pandemic, and to
identify events that might prompt them to send employees
and/or their dependents out of the country, assuming such
travel is possible. Should this decision be made, the
Department of State will communicate this to the private
American community so that people can plan accordingly. As
in any other crisis, the Department of State will assess
the availability of commercial transportation, the ability
of people to travel to the United States or a third
country, and other related factors in deciding on
appropriate actions to assist official and private
Americans.

As a private American citizen living overseas, what can I
do today to help prepare myself and my family for a
possible influenza pandemic?

Several simple measures can be taken now that will put you

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and your family in a better state of readiness should such
a pandemic occur. These measures are outlined at
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/planguide/. If you are living
overseas for work or education, contact your sponsors and
find out what plans they have regarding repatriation or
evacuation; they may also have advice for you about
obtaining an influenza vaccination (if and when a vaccine
becomes available),anti-viral medication, and employing
other suggested preventive measures as the need arises.

What precautions should I take if I live in or visit an
area affected by H5N1 "bird flu"?
Avoid contact with live birds, chickens, ducks, turkeys
and geese and their feces, feathers and pens if at all
possible. Children, in particular, should be taught these
precautions, and small children may need to be supervised
for their protection. Do not purchase or agree to adopt
new pet birds from an area in which H5N1 influenza has
been reported. Avoid poultry products from areas with
H5N1-infected birds. Do not transport live or dead poultry
even if it appears to be healthy.

All foods from poultry, including eggs and poultry blood
should be cooked thoroughly. Egg yolks should not be runny
or liquid. Because influenza viruses are destroyed by
heat, the cooking temperature for poultry meat should be
74 C (165 F).

Avoid cross contamination of other foods by use of
separate kitchen utensils and surfaces exposed to raw
poultry. Wash hands with soap and water after any poultry
contact. For more information on food handling and safety
please visit the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) website at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/index.as p

Sanitary professionals, health-care workers and others who
must travel to H5N1-infected areas and work directly with
infected birds, poultry and humans should follow approved
precautions for reducing the risk for infection with H5N1
virus. See DHHS/CDC guidance at
http://cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional.

Can my domestic animals get bird flu?

There have been reports of H5N1 infection in domestic
cats, pigs, tigers, leopards, ferrets, and stone martens.
The domestic cats are believed to have been infected by
eating raw, H5N1-infected birds. Although no human cases
of avian influenza A have been associated with contact
with infected cats, you should keep your cats inside if
there has been a verified outbreak of H5N1 in your area.
In addition, avoid contact with stray cats, and inform
your local veterinarian if your cat becomes sick after
having had contact with birds. You should always follow
strict hygiene rules when disposing of animal waste or
caring for your pets.

At this time, there is not enough information to determine
if dogs can become infected with H5N1 virus. For more
information about H5N1 infection in domestic animals, see
the DHHS/CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-
info/qa.htm


5. Minimized Considered.
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