Warden Messages
Warden Message
Tbilisi, Georgia
January 13, 2006
Aivian Influenza Update
The Turkish Ministry of Health has confirmed human cases of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in Turkey. Authorities are currently investigating additional human cases. The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture has announced that animal infections have been found throughout the country.
The Government of Georgia has stated that to date there have been no confirmed cases of either bird or human avian influenza in Georgia. The Georgian Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed that recent bird deaths in Georgia resulted from fowl cholera, not avian influenza. According to the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit in Cairo, Egypt, and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Georgia has the capability to test for avian influenza.
Given the situation in neighboring Turkey, American citizens are reminded to avoid all contact with live poultry, wild birds, commercial or backyard poultry farms, and poultry markets, including roadside markets. In addition, the Georgian Ministry of Agriculture has recommended that people do not purchase chickens or eggs in the marketplaces to protect themselves from smuggled chickens from Turkey and Russia.
American Citizens are advised to be familiar with the procedures for safe handling of poultry products, including extensive cleansing and thorough cooking, as explained in previous Warden Messages (available on the Embassy’s website at http://georgia.usembassy.gov, and to begin individual preparations, including maintaining a stockpile of canned food and water to last at least three weeks, a routine precaution in the event of any unforeseen emergency.
For more information on avian influenza, see the State Department’s Avian Influenza Fact Sheet at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ publication “Pandemic Influenza Planning: A Guide for Individuals and Families” is available on their website at http://www.pandemicflu.gov and may be a useful resource in your family’s planning.
If you are planning any travel, please review the updated country and avian influenza information from the Department of State's Consular Information Sheets at http://travel.state.gov, or by calling the Department of State's toll-free number, 1-888-407-4747, or if calling from overseas, 202-501-4444.