Attention all American citizens:
The Government of Ghana and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Cairo has confirmed the first case in Ghana of birds infected with the H5NI (Avian Flu) virus. Five hundred birds (mostly chickens) on a small farm near Tema have died from the virus. A culling program is in place to limit this outbreak to Tema.

There are no cases of Avian Influenza in humans reported to date.

For information on Avian Influenza and Pandemic Flu preparedness, see www.cdc.gov, www.who.int, and www.pandemicflu.gov, or the U.S. Embassy in Ghana’s website at accra.usembassy.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.

For As part of worldwide Pandemic Flu preparedness, the Embassy advises American citizens in Ghana to maintain at least two and up to twelve weeks’ supply of water, non-perishable food, and medicines, and to have themselves and their families receive flu vaccinations from their health care providers. See the Department of State’s flyer “ How to Prepare for ‘Shelter in Place’”.

The Consular Section is located at 6 th and 10 th Lanes in Osu, Accra. The direct American Citizen Services telephone number is [233] (21) 701-1811; the after-hours emergency telephone number is 011 [233] (21) 775-297; email is acsaccra@state.gov