Avian Influeza Update
Updated May 18, 2006
The Government of India has announced three separate outbreaks of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in India. The first outbreak, announced in mid-February, occurred in and around Navapur, a city located in the Nandurbar district in the west Indian state of Maharashtra (near the borders with the states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh), including poultry farms in Uchchhal, Gujarat, just a few miles from Navapur across the state border. In mid-March, a second outbreak was reported about 140 km east of Navapur in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. A third outbreak was reported in late March around Ichhapur, a town located on the Madhya Pradesh/Maharashtra border about 70 km east of Jalgaon near the city of Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh. In each of these cases, the Government of India ordered the culling of tens of thousands of birds. Certain individuals showing flu-like symptoms were quarantined for observation in connection with these outbreaks, but to date no individual has tested positive for the H5N1 virus. The Government of India has announced that the virus has been contained in all three of these outbreaks.
American citizens are advised to monitor news reports, and to avoid any areas with active outbreaks of avian influenza in India. We also wish to advise American citizens that, in any area which experiences an outbreak of avian influenza among birds or humans, local authorities have the power to quarantine symptomatic individuals in government hospitals, many of which may not provide adequate isolation facilities.
The U.S. Embassy has prepared a number of Questions & Answers relating to treatment of persons who may have contracted avian influenza, as well as precautions to be taken to avoid infection. To review those Questions & Answers, please click here.
The U.S. Embassy will continue to monitor any other possible outbreaks of avian influenza in India and Bhutan among domestic and wild bird populations, and also will continue to monitor the possible spread of the virus from infected poultry to humans. The Embassy will work with the Indian government in providing information to minimize the possibility of transmission of the virus to humans in order to protect Americans living and traveling in India. If you live in India or Bhutan, or intend to travel to India or Bhutan, you are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy New Delhi or the nearest U.S. Consulate to ensure that you receive periodic "warden messages" regarding avian influenza and other security issues sent by e-mail to the American community from time to time.
American citizens interested in learning more about avian influenza and pandemic flu are encouraged to read information made available by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the U.S. Department of State, and the official U.S. government website on pandemic flu sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services at the following links:
Information for Travelers
General Information
Consular Services
