Warden Messages

Bird Flu (03/17/06)

U.S. Embassy Abidjan

March 17, 2006

Attention all American citizens:

As mentioned in our Warden Message of March 3, 2006, the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan has not received any reports of avian influenza in Cote d’Ivoire.  We continue to monitor the situation and will keep the American citizen community informed of any developments.

In the meantime, we would like to provide some basic information concerning the handling of food as well as guidelines for basic flu prevention.  The following is provided by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization relating to handling of live fowl, poultry, and eggs.

- Conventional cooking (temperatures at or above 70°C in all parts of a food item) will inactivate the H5N1 virus. Properly cooked poultry flesh is safe to consume.

- The H5N1 virus, if present in poultry, is not killed by refrigeration or freezing.

- Home slaughtering and preparation of sick or dead poultry for consumption is hazardous.

- Eggs can contain H5N1 virus both on the outside (shell) and the inside (whites and yolk). Eggs from areas with H5N1 outbreaks in poultry should be washed with soap and water prior to breaking and should not be consumed raw or partially cooked; eggs should not be used in foods that will not be cooked, baked or heat-treated in other ways.

- There is no epidemiological evidence to indicate that humans have been infected with the H5N1 virus following consumption of properly cooked poultry or eggs.

- The greatest risk of exposure to the virus is through the handling and slaughter of live, infected poultry.  Good hygiene practices are essential during slaughter and post- slaughter handling to prevent exposure via raw poultry flesh or cross contamination from poultry to other foods, food preparation surfaces or equipment.

 

For basic flu preventative measures:
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Avoid close contact with those who are sick
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet.
- If you are sick, stay home.  Take your temperature with a thermometer and call it in to your health care provider.
- Get plenty of rest.