sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
Warden Message: Burma Bird Flu Outbreak
Consular Affairs Bulletins
East Asia / Pacific - Burma
4 Apr 2007
U.S. Embassy Rangoon released the following Warden Message on April 4:
This Warden Message is to inform American citizens that Burma?s Livestock Breeding Veterinary Department has confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza on March 28 among birds in Mingaladon Township, 18 miles north of Rangoon. No human infections have been reported. As they had done in previous outbreaks, Burmese officials destroyed the remaining poultry at the affected farm, disinfected the premises, and destroyed all chickens at three nearby farms. The Embassy continues to work closely with Burmese 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.
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
Consular Affairs Bulletins
East Asia / Pacific - Burma
4 Apr 2007
U.S. Embassy Rangoon released the following Warden Message on April 4:
This Warden Message is to inform American citizens that Burma?s Livestock Breeding Veterinary Department has confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza on March 28 among birds in Mingaladon Township, 18 miles north of Rangoon. No human infections have been reported. As they had done in previous outbreaks, Burmese officials destroyed the remaining poultry at the affected farm, disinfected the premises, and destroyed all chickens at three nearby farms. The Embassy continues to work closely with Burmese 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.
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