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Warden Message: Romania Avian Flu Outbreak
Consular Affairs Bulletins
Europe - Romania
29 Nov 2007
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U.S. Embassy Bucharest released the following Warden Message on November 29, 2007:
The Romanian National Sanitary Veterinary Agency, ANSV Radu Roatis, has confirmed an outbreak of high pathogenic avian H5N1 virus (?bird flu?) in a small number of domestic poultry in the village of Murighiol in the Danube Delta. Murighiol is located in a rural area of Tulcea County. This incident is coincidental with a seasonal wave of wild bird migration from northwestern Asia toward Romania and southern Europe.
The Romanian veterinary authorities, together with the police and public health officials, have taken the following actions:
- Collection and destruction through incineration of all dead birds and live poultry in the affected household, with possible enlargement of the area based on local monitoring.
- Chemical disinfection of all households and farms within the affected area.
- Vaccination of human population in the affected area with the influenza vaccine.
- Installation of disinfection filters at the entrances to the village.
Please note: Authorities have not instituted any quarantine in the area. Currently, there are no human cases of avian influenza in Romania, nor have there been any cases of human-to-human transmission.
As a general precaution, public health authorities recommend the following basic human flu preventive measures:
- Wash your hands frequently
- Avoid close contact with those who are sick
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Eat a well balanced, healthy diet
- If you are sick, stay home
- Get plenty of rest
Keys to safer food:
- Separate raw meat from cooked or ready to eat foods and do not use the same chopping board or knife
- Do not handle both raw and cooked foods without washing your hands in between
- Do not use raw or soft-boiled eggs in food preparations that will not be heat treated or cooked
- Keep clean with soap and water. Wash your hands after handling frozen, thawed, or raw chicken or eggs.
- Thoroughly wash surfaces and utensils that have been in contact with raw meat
- Cook all poultry thoroughly, this will inactivate viruses.
- Egg yolks should not be eaten when runny or liquid
Precautions to take if you are going to be in an area affected by bird flu:
- Avoid contact with chickens, ducks or other poultry and their waste
- Children are at higher risk; teach them to avoid contact with birds
- Do not keep birds as pets
- Wash hands with soap and water after any contact
- Do not transport birds, even if you think they are healthy
- Do not prepare poultry from affected areas
- If you unintentionally come into contact with poultry in an affected area:
-- Wash your hands immediately with soap and water
-- Remove shoes outside the house and clean them well
-- Call your health care provider if you have any fever
Please visit www.pandemicflu.gov for detailed information on avian influenza and pandemic preparedness and www.travel.state.gov for the Avian Flu Fact Sheet.
Consular Affairs Bulletins
Europe - Romania
29 Nov 2007
<table class="sideTable" id="reports" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <thead> <th>
</th> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>
</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
U.S. Embassy Bucharest released the following Warden Message on November 29, 2007:
The Romanian National Sanitary Veterinary Agency, ANSV Radu Roatis, has confirmed an outbreak of high pathogenic avian H5N1 virus (?bird flu?) in a small number of domestic poultry in the village of Murighiol in the Danube Delta. Murighiol is located in a rural area of Tulcea County. This incident is coincidental with a seasonal wave of wild bird migration from northwestern Asia toward Romania and southern Europe.
The Romanian veterinary authorities, together with the police and public health officials, have taken the following actions:
- Collection and destruction through incineration of all dead birds and live poultry in the affected household, with possible enlargement of the area based on local monitoring.
- Chemical disinfection of all households and farms within the affected area.
- Vaccination of human population in the affected area with the influenza vaccine.
- Installation of disinfection filters at the entrances to the village.
Please note: Authorities have not instituted any quarantine in the area. Currently, there are no human cases of avian influenza in Romania, nor have there been any cases of human-to-human transmission.
As a general precaution, public health authorities recommend the following basic human flu preventive measures:
- Wash your hands frequently
- Avoid close contact with those who are sick
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Eat a well balanced, healthy diet
- If you are sick, stay home
- Get plenty of rest
Keys to safer food:
- Separate raw meat from cooked or ready to eat foods and do not use the same chopping board or knife
- Do not handle both raw and cooked foods without washing your hands in between
- Do not use raw or soft-boiled eggs in food preparations that will not be heat treated or cooked
- Keep clean with soap and water. Wash your hands after handling frozen, thawed, or raw chicken or eggs.
- Thoroughly wash surfaces and utensils that have been in contact with raw meat
- Cook all poultry thoroughly, this will inactivate viruses.
- Egg yolks should not be eaten when runny or liquid
Precautions to take if you are going to be in an area affected by bird flu:
- Avoid contact with chickens, ducks or other poultry and their waste
- Children are at higher risk; teach them to avoid contact with birds
- Do not keep birds as pets
- Wash hands with soap and water after any contact
- Do not transport birds, even if you think they are healthy
- Do not prepare poultry from affected areas
- If you unintentionally come into contact with poultry in an affected area:
-- Wash your hands immediately with soap and water
-- Remove shoes outside the house and clean them well
-- Call your health care provider if you have any fever
Please visit www.pandemicflu.gov for detailed information on avian influenza and pandemic preparedness and www.travel.state.gov for the Avian Flu Fact Sheet.