Warden Message

Attention all American citizens:

February 8, 2006

The U.S. Consulate General has received confirmation of several incidents of Avian Influenza infections of poultry in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has reported widespread poultry deaths in the north of the country. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations confirms that the poultry deaths that occurred in January were caused by the H5N1 Avian Flu virus. Local authorities have disinfected the areas where the poultry was located, and have introduced quarantine measures and controls to limit the movement of animals. The Nigerian government has stated that there is no evidence of any human cases of the disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working with the Nigerian government to further investigate the outbreak.

For information on Avian Influenza and Pandemic Flu preparedness, see www.cdc.gov, www.who.int, and www.pandemicflu.gov. For additional information on avian influenza as it affects American citizens residing abroad, see the U.S. Department of State's Avian Influenza Fact Sheet at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html, Although there is no evidence of human cases of avian influenza in Nigeria, due to general security concerns in Nigeria, the consulate advises American citizens in Nigeria to stockpile up to three week's supply of water, non-perishable food, and medicines, and to have themselves and their families receive flu vaccinations from their health care
providers.

For information on travel in Nigeria, see the Department of State's most recent Travel Warning and Consular Information Sheet http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_987.html for Nigeria, which are located on the Department's website at http://travel.state.gov/. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

U.S. Embassy Abuja is located at Plot 1075, Diplomatic Drive , Central Business District, Abuja ; the telephone number is 09-461-4000. The U.S. Consulate Lagos is located at 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos; the telephone number is 01-261-1215. For after-hours emergencies, call 011 [234] (1) 261-1414, 261-0195, 261-0078, 261-0139, or 261-6477.