Avian Flu

Avian Influenza Special Edition

American Citizens Services Newsletter (10/5/2005)

U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong
Avian Influenza Special Edition

Background: Avian Influenza
Steps You Can Take to Minimize Risk
What the U.S. is Doing As a Government
More Information

The U.S. Government remains concerned that the ongoing foreign outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in infected poultry has the potential to turn into a human influenza pandemic that would have significant international political, economic and social consequences. Since mid-2003, outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza have been confirmed and continue to be detected among birds in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam and possibly Laos.

According to the World Health Organization, between December 2003 and August 2005, a total of 112 laboratory-confirmed human cases of H5N1 avian influenza were reported in Vietnam (90), Thailand (17), Cambodia (4) and Indonesia (1), resulting in 57 deaths. Most of these human cases resulted from direct contact with infected poultry or poultry droppings. Only a few cases of possible limited human-to-human transmissions have been recorded. If the virus develops the capacity to spread easily from person-to-person, medical professionals warn that a global influenza pandemic could be set in motion. The virus has prompted the culling of millions of domestic poultry and wild fowl from affected countries in Southeast Asia to Russia and Kazakhstan.

Steps You Can Take to Minimize Risk

A specific vaccine for humans that is effective against avian influenza has not yet been developed. Based upon limited data, the CDC has suggested that the anti-viral medication Oseltamavir (brand name-Tamiflu) may be effective in preventing or treating avian influenza. The State Department encourages American citizens traveling or living abroad that are interested in obtaining this medication to consult with their physician. Tamiflu is readily available in Hong Kong. U.S. Embassies and Consulates will not be in a position to provide Tamiflu or other drugs to the American community at large.

The following are several measures you can take to help minimize the health risks of H5N1 exposure and infection (compiled from CDC and WHO travelers' health recommendations):

Keep up-to-date on currently infected areas with the links listed below (see More Information).

Avoid concentrations of live birds in affected areas, including open-air food markets, small backyard or neighborhood coops, and poultry farms. If you have come into contact with these locations, you should monitor yourself for symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and difficulty breathing, and be in close consultation with a healthcare provider. Check with your doctor to determine whether you can be using vaccinations against regular human influenza in order to help reduce the likelihood of co-infection, and thus reduce the risk or genetic reassortment.

Do not eat uncooked or undercooked poultry or poultry products in affected areas, including dishes made with uncooked poultry blood. Additionally, practice safe food preparation techniques, such as keeping raw meat away from ready-to-eat foods, washing hands before and after handling raw meat and eggs, and carefully washing all surfaces and utensils after cooking.

Practice careful and frequent hand washing. Cleaning your hands often, using either soap and water or waterless, or alcohol-based hand rubs when soap is not available, helps remove potentially infectious materials from your skin and helps prevent disease transmission.

Do not travel while sick, and limit contact with others as much as possible to help prevent the spread of any infectious illness.

If you are in a high-risk area and begin showing possible symptoms of influenza, consult a healthcare provider immediately. However, before you visit a health-care setting, tell the provider about your symptoms, whether you have had direct poultry contact, and where you traveled.

(We have a list of medical providers in Hong Kong and Macau online)

What the U.S. is Doing As a Government

The United States is collaborating closely with the World Health Organization, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and the World Organization for Animal Health and a number of foreign governments to address the situation through planning, greater monitoring and full transparency in reporting and investigating avian influenza occurrences. These international partners have led global efforts to encourage countries to heighten surveillance for outbreaks in poultry and die-offs in migratory birds, and rapid introduction of containment measures.

The Department of State, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development are coordinating future international response measures on behalf of the White House with departments and agencies across the federal government. Over the past year, the Department of Health and Human Services has provided more than $5.5 million in technical assistance and grants to affected countries in Southeast Asia and the World Health Organization for influenza pandemic preparedness. Through its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS is providing ongoing emergency support with both experts and laboratory reagents.

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