Avian Flu Part II

We have also recently recieved the official work from the Peace Corps Director on their plans surrounding Avian Flu. The most important bits are:

If we begin to see human-to-human casual transmission, evidenced by a cluster of cases, in one country or a region of one country, we will restrict Volunteer travel to that country. If it is a Peace Corps country, the Volunteers will take prophylactic Tamiflu, and we will begin an immediate consolidation and evacuation from that country. If commercial evacuation is impossible, other possibilities are sheltering-in-place for Volunteers and charter or military airlift coordinated with the Department of State. Neighboring Peace Corps countries will also put all Volunteers on alert, and the Volunteers will begin Tamiflu prophylaxis.

If we begin to see human-to-human casual transmission in clusters of cases in multiple regions of one country or multiple countries, we will begin the immediate consolidation and evacuation of Volunteers in the affected countries and all Volunteers will begin Tamiflu prophylaxis. Again, if commercial evacuation is impossible, other possibilities include sheltering-in-place for Volunteers and charter or military airlift coordinated with the Department of State.
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I'm at the same time comforted and disturbed by the level of response. I'm glad for their ultimate concern for my well-being, one of the reasons I chose the Peace Corps in the first place, but I would also hate to get pulled out of country for a few cases of people catching the flu from birds and then spreading it. I know I'm young and healthy and so can afford to be so sanguine about my health, but I've also invested a lot of time in this gig and am just getting to the point where I feel a degree of comfort and will actually be starting projects. I would hate for all that time and energy to be shot down by a simple bug.

Avian Flu

For those of you who are worried about the Avian Flu issues going on over here in SE Asia, here’s what the PC has done for us so far as well as the Warden Notice issued by the Embassy.


To date, there are no reported cases of infected birds or humans in the
Philippines. However Avian Flu is present in the region and over recent
weeks, it has continued to spread with the most recent reports coming from
Eastern Europe. The Peace Corps Philippines has taken the following
preventative steps.

* All Volunteers have received the flu vaccination
* All Volunteers have Tamiflu (oseltamivir)
* Peace Corps is in close contact with the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health
* Peace Corps Philippines is working with other US Agencies in
the Philippines to coordinate preparations
* Volunteers working in areas such as bird sanctuaries, have
been instructed to avoid contact/handling birds.

WARDEN NOTICE
October 27, 2005

THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES IS TRANSMITTING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
THROUGH THE EMBASSY WARDEN SYSTEM AS A PUBLIC SERVICE TO AMERICAN CITIZENS
IN THE PHILIPPINES. PLEASE DISSEMINATE THIS MESSAGE TO ALL U.S. CITIZENS IN
YOUR ORGANIZATION OR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU.

Avian Flu Fact Sheet

This Fact Sheet alerts Americans to the most recent occurrences of Influenza
A H5N1 (avian influenza strain). A number of countries are reporting cases
of avian influenza, commonly referred to as "bird flu" in their domestic and
wild bird populations. The H5N1 strain of influenza causes severe disease
in domesticated fowl. In addition, there are confirmed cases of
bird-to-human transmissions of avian influenza in the South East Asia
region, many of which have resulted in death.

Please visit the WHO website,
<http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/en/> for the most up
to date information on the countries affected and the number of deaths.

The vast majority of the known human cases have resulted from direct contact
with poultry, and there is only limited evidence to suggest possible
human-to-human transmission. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Department are concerned
about the potential for human-to-human transmission of this highly dangerous
flu strain, and are working closely with other partners in an effort to
monitor the outbreak.

Concerns about the possibility of an avian influenza pandemic have prompted
international and national efforts to institute pandemic preparedness
measures. In keeping with the CDC and the WHO guidance, the Department of
State is working with its embassies and consulates worldwide to prepare in
the event of a pandemic. American citizens traveling to or living in
countries where avian influenza is prevalent should consider the potential
risks and keep informed of the latest medical guidance and information in
order to make appropriate plans.

The Department, the CDC and the WHO have not issued any travel alerts or
warnings for avian flu-infected areas. However, the CDC advises travelers
to countries in Asia with documented H5N1 outbreaks to avoid poultry farms,
contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to
be contaminated with feces or fluids from poultry or other animals. In
addition, the Department has asked its embassies and consulates to consider
preparedness measures that take into consideration the fact that travel into
or out of a country may not be possible, safe or medically advisable.

Specific CDC travel information relating to avian influenza, including
preventive measures is available at
<http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm>. WHO guidance related to avian
influenza is available at
<http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/>.

A specific vaccine for humans that is effective against avian influenza has
not yet been developed. Based upon limited data, the CDC has suggested that
the anti-viral medication Oseltamavir (brand name-Tamiflu) may be effective
in preventing or treating avian influenza. Using this input, the Department
of State has decided to pre-position the drug Tamiflu at its Embassies and
Consulates worldwide, for eligible U.S. Government employees and their
families serving abroad. Tamiflu may not be readily available overseas and
the State Department encourages American citizens traveling or living abroad
that are interested in obtaining this medication to consult with their
physician. There is no provision for the U.S. government to provide
American citizens traveling or living abroad with medications, including in
the event of a pandemic.

Americans who are planning travel to a country that has reported the virus
or who are concerned about the Avian flu are advised to monitor the CDC and
the WHO web sites for the latest information.