Hungary Avian Influenza Advisory

U.S. Embassy Budapest issued the following Warden Message on February 2, 2007: 

On January 22, 2007, Hungary reported suspected cases of avian influenza among geese at a farm in Liposto in Csongrad county in southeastern Hungary. On January 29, the reference laboratory in Weybridge, England confirmed that the samples from these cases tested positive for the H5N1 virus.

Hungarian authorities also reported on January 27, 2007 a second group of suspected cases at another goose farm in Derekegyhaza, 8 kilometers away from Liposto. Samples from these cases have also been sent to the Weybridge laboratory for testing.

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The European Commission was informed immediately by the Hungarian authorities of the outbreaks of the avian influenza in Csongrad County. Tests were carried out for bird flu after an abnormally high mortality rate was reported in geese on the two farms. Samples from these farms were also sent to the laboratory in Weybridge, near London, which the Commission uses to confirm such cases.

A spokesman from the European Commission stressed that in both instances, all EU rules had been carried out, including the slaughter of infected flocks, disinfection of affected farms and the setting up of safety zones within a 10-kilometer (six-mile) perimeter.

In the protection zone, poultry must be kept indoors, movement of poultry is banned, except directly to the slaughterhouse, and the transport of meat outside the zone is forbidden, except under very limited conditions.
In both the protection and surveillance zones, on-farm biosecurity measures must be strengthened and hunting of wild birds is banned, the EU said. The U.S. Embassy in Budapest is monitoring the situation and will continue to disseminate information through the Warden System.

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The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Hungary to review information about AI, including suggested 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 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).

The Department of State encourages all American citizens residing in Hungary to register their presence with the American Embassy, Budapest, at Szabadsag Ter 12, District 5, or by visiting our website at www.usembassy.hu. For questions regarding registration, this warden message or other matters visit us in person, visit our website or call 475-4164.

The government of Hungary has established and published the following four telephone numbers for questions or incidents relating to Avian Influenza in Hungary:

Only to report suspicious or dead birds:  189 

Ministry of Health (they speak only Hungarian) (0-24hours) (no charge) is a number where there is always a medical person to help with human related AI questions: 06-80-374-636

National Epidemiological Center (only Hungarian) (no charge) M-F from 9am-1pm or Fridays 9am to noon:  06-80-204-217

National Public Health Institute (only Hungarian) (no charge) M-Th: from 8 am-16 pm, Fridays 8 am to noon:  06-80-204-264  

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