U.S. EMBASSY  WARDEN MESSAGE
Update on Avian Influenza 

February 7, 2007

U.S. Embassy Jakarta 
U.S. Consulate General Surabaya

Warden Message - Update on Avian Influenza 

The US Embassy recognizes that US citizens residing in Indonesia and US businesses with operations here are concerned with recent news reports of new human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection. Since June 2005, on average, four human H5N1 infections have been confirmed each month in Indonesia and occasional family clusters recorded. It is likely that this trend will continue unchanged through the coming months. The World Health Organization (WHO) has not upgraded its threat risk and the virus has not changed into a more dangerous pathogen. While cases of H5N1 virus infection of humans remain extremely rare, the Embassy is providing this update to help US citizens make informed decisions concerning the health of their families and employees.

Avian influenza A (H5N1) is endemic among poultry in Indonesia. As of January 31, 2007, the WHO has reported 81 confirmed human H5N1 cases with 63 deaths since June 2005; of these cases, 55 cases and 46 deaths occurred in 2006, and 7 cases and 5 deaths have been reported thus far in 2007.

Indonesian health authorities, assisted by experts from the U.S. NAMRU-2 and the WHO Influenza Reference Center at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), continue to conduct laboratory analyses of the H5N1 viruses isolated from cases in Indonesia, including family clusters, and have not found any significant changes that would suggest that the H5N1 viruses in Indonesia are more easily transmitted among humans or are resistant to the anti-influenza compound oseltamivir (TamiFlu). The WHO has concluded that limited, non-sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus most likely occurred between members of a family in North Sumatra in May 2006. However, there is no evidence of any widespread, efficient, or sustained human-to-human transmission of H5N1 virus in Indonesia or globally.

The Embassy encourages all Americans traveling to or living in Indonesia to monitor local news reports about avian influenza outbreaks and to consult with their health care providers about prevention of avian influenza and steps to take in case of possible exposure to avian influenza.

It is critically important to avoid contact with sick or dead poultry. This is particularly important for children. Most human cases of H5N1 have occurred through direct contact with sick or dead poultry.

Additionally, there have been confirmed reports that wild and stray cats have been shown to carry H5N1. While there have been no documented cases of feline-to-human transmission of H5N1, it is important to avoid contact with wild and stray cats, and to ensure that domesticated cats do not eat or interact with sick or dying poultry, or enter areas where there is an outbreak of H5N1 in birds and poultry. Domesticated cats which reside mainly inside a residence should not be at risk for catching H5N1.

The Embassy further encourages Americans resident in Indonesia to be vigilant about food preparation and handling when cooking chicken or eggs and to wash hands after touching uncooked poultry or poultry products.

Americans can obtain updated information on avian influenza, including country specific information about Indonesia and other Asian countries, from the websites listed below. Links to these websites, as well as regularly updated Q's and A's about avian influenza, are also available on the Embassy's website at http://jakarta.usembassy.gov.

Websites for more information WHO outbreak updates: 
http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/ 

CDC avian influenza information: 
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm 

CDC Iinformation for businesses: 
http://www.cdc.gov/business/ 

HFIS pandemic influenza information: 
http://www.pandemicflu.gov 

Pandemic information for businesses: 
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab4.html

The Embassy strongly encourages Americans in Indonesia, including short-term visitors, to register with the Embassy in Jakarta, the Consulate General in Surabaya, or the Consular Agent in Bali. Registration may be done on-line at http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/consular/onlinereg.html  or by telephone to the numbers below.

Information on registration procedures, all security-related Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, and recent Embassy warden messages are posted on the Embassy's website at http://jakarta.usembassy.gov.

The Embassy is located at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, No. 4-5, Jakarta; the 24-hour telephone number is 021-3435-9000. The telephone number of the Consulate General in Surabaya is 031-295-6400; the telephone number of the U.S. Consular Agency in Bali is 0361-233-605.