WARDEN INFORMATION

Embassy Ankara Warden Message 16

October 13, 2005

Turkish officials reported that the outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) in poultry in northwestern Turkey earlier this week was the H5N1 virus strain. This outbreak in Turkey has been widely reported in the press. There have been no reports of illness or death in humans as a result of the outbreak in poultry and Turkish officials are working closely with international agriculture and health experts to contain the outbreak. There have also been no additional outbreaks of the disease in the poultry sector.

1. Why we are bringing this to your attention now?

Avian Influenza in humans in Southeast Asia has led the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to raise the concern that the H5N1 virus could develop the ability for human to human transmission with potentially mutated genes. While this could present the conditions for a pandemic spread of the virus worldwide, there has been no such outbreak to date.

2. Is there an increased chance of my catching the bird flu now?

In general, the answer is no. Although the H5N1 strain has been identified in Turkey, there have been no confirmed reports of illness in humans. However, sporadic cases continue in at least two countries - Vietnam and Indonesia.

3. Is there a problem with eating chicken or eggs?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture advises that there is no evidence of transmission of AI from eating poultry products although USDA recommends avoiding possible cross contamination of raw poultry products and other foodstuffs (such as by hand washing after handling poultry, and using separate knives, cutting boards and plates). USDA also recommends that all poultry products, including egg yolks, reach a cooking temperature of 70 degrees centigrade (158 F). Eggs should be washed with soapy water before handling with hand washing and raw or soft-boiled eggs should not be eaten. See <http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/avian_flu_ig_americans_abroad_032405.htm> for more information.

4. What can I personally do to decrease my chance of catching AI?

You should avoid all contact with poultry (chicken, ducks, geese, pigeons, quail) and wild birds, and avoid settings where infected poultry may be present, such as commercial or backyard poultry farms and live poultry markets. Teach your children not to handle dead or sick birds they may find outside or at school. Use the food handling and preparations described above. Careful and frequent hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rubs helps prevent disease transmission.

Additional information with links to the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control is available on the U.S. Embassy website at http://ankara.usembassy.gov.

Contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Turkey:

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara is at 110 Ataturk Boulevard, tel: (90)(312) 455-5555, fax (90)(312) 468-6131. The Internet address is http://ankara.usembassy.gov 

The U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul is located at Kaplicalar Mevkii Sokak No. 2, 34460, Istinye, Sariyer, tel: (90) (212) 335-9000, fax (90) (212) 335-9102. Istanbul-specific information can also be accessed via the Consulate's website http://istanbul.usconsulate.gov

The U.S. Consulate in Adana is located at Girne Bulvari No. 212, Guzelevler Mahallesi, Yuregir, Adana, Turkey. tel: (90)(322) 346-6262, fax (90)(322) 346-7916, web site at http://adana.usconsulate.gov 

The U.S. Consulate in Izmir can be reached at (90)(232) 464-8755.