U.S. EMBASSY  WARDEN MESSAGE

July 3, 2006

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

Warden Message

The US Embassy recognizes that US citizen residing in Indonesia and US businesses with operations are concerned with the news reports regarding clusters of human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection in North Sumatra and East Java provinces. While cases of H5N1 virus infection of humans remain extremely rare, the Embassy is providing the following information to help U.S. citizens make informed decisions concerning the health of their families and employees.

Avian influenza A (H5N1) is endemic among poultry in Indonesia and poultry outbreaks have been reported in 27 of Indonesia's 33 provinces. As of late June 2006, Indonesian authorities have reported 51 confirmed human H5N1 cases with 39 deaths caused by H5N1 virus infection since June 2005; of these cases, 34 cases and 28 deaths have occurred in 2006.

Indonesian health authorities, assisted by experts from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) reference laboratories, have conducted genetic analyses of the H5N1 viruses isolated from cases in Indonesia, including family clusters, and have not found any significant changes that would make H5N1 viruses more easily transmitted among humans. The WHO 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. This cluster follows a few other clusters that have occurred in Indonesia and other countries. 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 important to avoid contact with sick or dead poultry. This is particularly critical for children. Most human cases of H5N1 have occurred through direct contact with sick or dead poultry.

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. Attached to this message is a separate list of food preparation guidelines in both English and Indonesian.

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 information for businesses: http://www.cdc.gov/business/
HFIS pandemic influenza information: www.pandemicflu.gov
Pandemic information for businesses: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab4.html

Avian Flu Food Hygiene Tips, October 2005

Food Hygiene

• Separate raw meat from cooked or ready-to-eat foods. Do not use the same chopping board or the same knife for preparing raw meat and cooked or ready-to-eat food.
• Do not handle either raw or cooked foods without washing your hands in between.
• Do not place cooked meat back on the same plate or surface it was on before it was cooked.
• All foods from poultry, including eggs and poultry blood, should be cooked thoroughly. Egg yolks should not be runny or liquid. Because influenza viruses are destroyed by heat, the cooking temperature for poultry meat should reach 70°C (158° F).
• Wash egg shells in soapy water before handling and cooking, and wash your hands afterwards.
• Do not use raw or soft-boiled eggs in foods that will not be cooked.
• After handling raw poultry or eggs, wash your hands and all surfaces and utensils thoroughly with soap and water. =============================================================== 
  

Kebersihan Makanan

• Pisahkan daging mentah dari makanan yang telah dimasak atau siap untuk dimakan. Jangan gunakan talenan atau pisau yang sama untuk memotong daging mentah dan makanan yang telah dimasak atau siap untuk dimakan. 
  
• Jangan mengolah daging mentah maupun makanan yang telah dimasak tanpa mencuci tangan terlebih dahulu. 
  
• Jangan meletakkan daging yang telah dimasak ke wadah atau piring tempat daging tersebut diletakkan waktu sebelum dimasak. 
  
• Semua makanan dari produk unggas, termasuk telur dan darah unggas, harus dimasak sampai matang. Kuning telur tidak boleh dibiarkan cair. Oleh karena virus influenza akan mati pada suhu yang panas, daging unggas harus dimasak hingga mencapai 70ºC (158ºF). 
  
• Cucilah kulit telur dalam air sabun sebelum diolah dan dimasak, kemudian cucilah tangan sesudahnya. 
  
• Jangan mencampurkan telur mentah atau setengah-matang ke dalam makanan yang tidak untuk dimasak. 
• Setelah selesai mengolah daging unggas atau telur mentah, cucilah tangan serta seluruh peralatan masak sampai bersih dengan sabun dan air.