Health and Security Notices

Avian Influenza Message (20 March 2006)

To date, there have been no confirmed cases of Avian Influenza (commonly known as bird flu) in Jerusalem, the West Bank, or Gaza.

Israeli Health and Agriculture Ministries confirm that turkeys on a number of kibbutzim and moshavim, primarily in the southern part of Israel, have become sick and died in recent days. Israeli health officials have begun culling these flocks, and have confirmed the presence of the H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza in some dead birds. Palestinian officials in the Ministries of Health and Agriculture are coordinating with Israeli officials on dealing with avian influenza; at this time, the presence of the H5N1 strain has not been detected in the West Bank or Gaza.

The Department of State has not issued travel advisories as a result of these events, but recommends avoiding poultry farming areas where culling is taking place, as well as open air live poultry/bird markets, until Israeli officials make announcements clarifying the situation.

The Consulate General wants to stress the following points to Americans present in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza:

-- This is still very much a disease of birds, and those who handle or live in close proximity to birds.

-- Instances of bird-to-human transmission are extremely rare.

-- Human-to-human transmission is also extremely rare, and seems to have occurred only among one or two caregivers from those already ill with the disease (these occurred outside of Israel and the West Bank/Gaza.)

-- Eating thoroughly cooked poultry or eggs has not been implicated in any outbreak to date.

The Consulate General is in close contact with Embassy Tel Aviv and with the Palestinian Authority on this issue, and will continue to monitor the situation. We will share new and significant information as it becomes available. We recommend that American citizens monitor local media (TV/radio/newspapers/websites) for information disseminated by the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority.

Information available on the Internet
More information on avian influenza can be found in the State Department’s Avian Influenza Fact Sheet, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html.

You can also go to http://www.pandemicflu.gov for information on steps taken by the U.S. government to prepare for a possible flu pandemic.