Pandemic 2009-H1N1 Influenza – An Update

November 10, 2009

This Warden Message alerts U.S. citizens to the latest information regarding human cases of 2009-H1N1 Influenza, sometimes referred to as swine flu or novel H1N1. Today, Ara Asoyan, the Chief of the Nork Infectious Disease Hospital in Yerevan, reported the first confirmed cases of 2009-H1N1 influenza in Armenia. There now appear to be two total confirmed cases of 2009-H1N1 in Armenia.

If you are quarantined or placed in isolation due to 2009-H1N1 influenza, please contact the Embassy at the number below and let us know, so we can monitor your situation. However, please be aware that the Embassy cannot secure your release if you have been detained or quarantined in accordance with local public health and legal authorities.

Due to legal restrictions and a lack of sufficient resources, the Embassy is not in a position to provide private citizens with pandemic-related supplies, medications or medical treatment, including vaccines, and cannot provide specific medical advice.  Questions and concerns about influenza or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional.  A list of local hospitals and doctors can be found at our website (http://armenia.usembassy.gov/acs_medical.html).

For more information on how to prepare for a severe pandemic, please see the State Department "Pandemic Influenza Fact Sheet" and "Options During a Pandemic" flyer located on http://www.travel.state.gov. Detailed information about 2009-H1N1 influenza can be found on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, the U.S. Government’s federal influenza website at http://www.flu.gov, and the World Health Organization website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html.

U.S. citizens may also call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the United States for the latest travel information. The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays), by calling 1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling ++1(202) 501-4444 from other countries.

U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Armenia are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan through the State Department's travel registration website (https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui), to obtain updated travel and security information. U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the Embassy. Registration is important; it allows the Embassy and the State Department to assist you in an emergency.

The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan is located at 1 American Avenue, tel. 10-46-47-00 and fax 10-46-47-42. The Consular Section is open from 9:00 a.m. until 6.00 p.m., with time reserved for American citizen services from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for official U.S. Embassy holidays. For more information, see the Embassy’s website (http://yerevan.usembassy.gov).