ACS Services

Message to American community - Bird Flu

February 27, 2006

We want to update you on an informational basis regarding the issue of avian flu. Tests indicate that two wild birds found in Slovakia on February 17th and 18th, 2006, died of the H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza (AI). The first, a grebe (a small duck-like bird), was found near the Slovnaft Oil Refinery in Bratislava and the second, a falcon, was discovered in Gabcikovo, about 37 miles southeast of Bratislava. Both samples were sent to the UK for final confirmation of the H5N1 virus. The Ministry of Agriculture has set up protection (3 km radius) and surveillance (10 km radius) zones around the discovery sites. These two cases involve only the infection of wild birds; there are no reported cases in Slovakia of the disease affecting farm poultry, and no cases of animal-to-human transmission.

The U.S. Embassy takes this occasion to remind U.S. citizens in Slovakia to review information about AI, including suggested health precautions, on the U.S. Department of State's "Avian Flu Fact Sheet," at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html The State Department website http://www.travel.state.gov includes answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's), and links to websites of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Links to this information can also be found on the Embassy's website at http://bratislava.usembassy.gov, or http://slovakia.usembassy.gov .

The Embassy encourages Americans in Slovakia to register with the Embassy in Bratislava. Registration may be done on-line at:
https://travelregistration.state.gov
Information on registration procedures, all security-related Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, and recent Embassy warden messages are posted on the Embassy's website at:
http://bratislava.usembassy.gov, or http://slovakia.usembassy.gov

In the event further information is obtained regarding this or any other security or safety situation in Slovakia, the Embassy will provide updates via this same channel and on the Embassy's web page. American citizens who need to contact the Embassy may do so during business hours by calling the main Embassy telephone number at (421) 2-5443-0861. In case of emergency, the Embassy's duty officer may be reached after hours via this same number.