WARDEN MESSAGES
The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan would like to bring the following alert based on World Health Organization information to the attention of American citizens residing or traveling in Tajikistan. Further updates on this information may possibly be found at the WHO website. For a list of doctors and hospitals in the Dushanbe Consular District see Embassy Dushanbe’s website. WHO alert – Hemorrhagic Fever - Tursunzoda Outbreak Update - August 13, 2009 Following the news reports and rumors circulating about an outbreak of Hemorrhagic Fever in Tursunzoda district, 60 kilometres west of Dushanbe, WHO would like to confirm that Tajik health authorities are currently in the process of managing a small outbreak of Congo Crimea Hemorrhagic Fever. Since the 26th of July several patients with hemorrhagic fever symptoms reported to the Tursunzoda Infectious Diseases Hospital. SSESS and the Ministry of Health (MoH) are actively engaging in managing the ongoing outbreak. Since three patients died in the past week, a Ministry of Health investigation mission was sent to Tursunzoda District and mobile teams have been dispatched to assess the situation in all households of the district. Humans who become infected with CCHF acquire the virus from direct contact with blood or other infected tissues or bodily fluids, or they may become infected from a tick bite. The majority of cases have occurred in those involved with the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians. Onset of symptoms is sudden, with fever, aching muscles, dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, backache, headache. There may be nausea, vomiting and sore throat early on, which may be accompanied by diarrhoea and generalised abdominal pain. Other clinical signs which emerge include tachycardia (fast heart rate), and a petechial rash (a rash caused by bleeding into the skin), such as in the mouth and throat, and on the skin. The mortality rate from CCHF is approximately 30%, with death occurring in the second week of illness. In those patients who recover, improvement generally begins on the ninth or tenth day after the onset of illness. Despite the serious clinical onset, Tajikistan is an endemic country for Congo Crimea Hemorrhagic Fever with in-country capacity and experience to control this disease. WHO does not recommend travel restrictions. Additional information will be provided as the situation develops. *** The U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan can be reached 24/7 at 992-37-229-2000. The Consular Section can be reached directly at 992-37-229-2300. Non-emergency services for American citizens: Mon, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and Tue - Fri, 2 - 4 p.m. In the event of emergency, you may reach the Duty Officer at 992-90-770-10-32. You may also reach the Consular Officer via the Embassy main phone number: 992-37-229-20-00. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Under current Tajik law, foreign citizens staying in Tajikistan for more than three calendar days must register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or OVIR of Tajikistan within three business days of arrival in Tajikistan. We encourage all American citizens to register with the U.S. Embassy as well even if they are temporarily in country. You may register at the U.S. State Department travel registration website: https://travelregistration.state.gov. All travel warnings and public announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement and the Central Asia Public Announcement, are available at www.travel.state.gov. Medevac information is available at www.travel.state.gov/medical. Voting information is located at www.fvap.gov. U.S. Embassy Dushanbe Consular Section
109A Ismoili Somoni Ave.
Tel: 992-37-229-23-00
Consular section fax: 992-37-229-23-09
Embassy fax: 992-37-229-20-50
E-mail: DushanbeConsular@state.gov