Warden Message January 26, 2006

U.S. Embassy, Nouakchott
Warden Message
26 January 2006 

The U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott wants the American community in Mauritania to be aware of USG efforts in responding to a potential Avian Influenza epidemic.  As part of these efforts, the Embassy will carefully monitor the situation in Mauritania and will continue to provide information on avian influenza to the American community.  According to the Mauritanian government, there have been no reported cases of animal or human avian influenza in Mauritania.  However, the possibility of an outbreak here cannot be ruled out as Mauritania is a poultry importer and the country is home to two large national parks and other wetlands that receive migratory birds.  Therefore, the transitional government has begun to prepare for an outbreak by forming an inter-ministerial committee and a permanent commission on avian flu.  While the government has taken steps and plans to do more, its capacity to detect and respond rapidly to an outbreak remains poor.
Americans who are planning travel to a country that has reported the virus or who are concerned about Avian flu are advised to monitor the CDC and the WHO web sites for the latest information.
For further information, the Embassy urges all American citizens to visit the Department of State’s Avian Flu website at www.state.gov/g/oes/avianflu/. 

U.S. citizens in Mauritania are also encouraged to register and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Mauritania at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy at rue Abdallaye, Nouakchott, telephone (222) 525-2660/2663, 525-1141/45 or 525-3038 (ext. 5441/5443); fax 525-1592; or email ConsularNkc@state.gov.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Cautions, Public Announcements and Travel Warnings can be found.  Americans in Mauritania who have not registered their presence with the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott are urged to register via the Internet through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov.  

The Embassy is located at rue Abdallaye, Nouakchott, and remains open for all American citizen services and visa services.  In case of an emergency, you may call the Embassy Duty Officer at 662-8163, or the Embassy guard post at 525-3288.