Warden Message

May 24, 2008

The US Embassy recognizes that US citizens residing in Bangladesh and US businesses with operations here may be concerned about the recent news reports of the first confirmed human case of Avian Influenza (H5N1) virus infection here in Bangladesh.

The Government of Bangladesh has announced the first H5N1 human infection of a child who became ill in January.  The child was admitted to the hospital and the virus was subsequently confirmed by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through its cooperative monitoring project with Bangladesh's government and local hospitals. The child has subsequently recovered.  Bangladesh had its first H5N1 poultry outbreak in February 2007.

While cases of H5N1 virus infection of humans remain rare, the Embassy is providing this update to help US citizens make informed decisions concerning the health of their families and employees.

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka can be reached at (880-2) 885-5500 during regular hours and for after-hours emergencies. Our website address is dhaka.usembassy.gov.  If you would like more information about avian influenza specifically, you may wish to consult the following resources:

The Bangladesh Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock website (with links to local Avian Influenza information in poultry):

http://www.mofl.gov.bd/

The State Department’s Avian Influenza Fact Sheet at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html.

The U.S. Government official website, www.pandemicflu.gov, has complete pandemic information, including planning guides.

Specific CDC travel information relating to avian influenza, including preventive measures is available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm.

World Health Organization (WHO) guidance related to avian influenza is available at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/.

The Embassy is sending you this message as part of our ongoing effort to inform you of important and significant information that may affect the American community in Bangladesh.  We hope you find it helpful.

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka can be reached at (880-2) 885-5500 during regular hours and for after-hours emergencies. Our website address is http://dhaka.usembassy.gov. For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Country Specific Information, Current Travel Warning, Current Travel Alerts, Worldwide Caution, and other Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings can be found.

Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada; or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

American Citizen Services
U. S. Embassy
Dhaka, Bangladesh