January 18, 2006

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES
HARARE, ZIMBABWE

Phone: (263) 4-250-593
E-mail: consularharare@state.gov

Website:  www.harare.usembassy.gov

WARDEN MESSAGE 2006, Number 1

January 18, 2006

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The U.S. Embassy in Harare is issuing this Warden Message to inform you of a recent outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe.  The World Health Organization (WHO) in Zimbabwe has advised that cholera cases have been reported in Chikomba, Buhera and Harare.  The outbreak remains limited and under control but in order to best protect yourself and your family, it is vital to carefully monitor your drinking water and food preparation techniques.  Some suggestions to control your risk of exposure are:

Use of distillers is by far the most reliable method to ensure safe drinking water.
Boiling and filtering is also a very reliable method to ensure safe drinking water.  Water should be brought to a vigorous boil for 5 minutes and allowed to cool to room temperature, then filtered.  Keep a clean water supply available to last you 2‑3 days in case of an unexpected power and/or water shortage.
Chemical disinfectant with iodine is an alternative method of water treatment.  Various tablets, powders and liquids containing iodine can be purchased in pharmacies and sporting goods stores.  The manufacturer's instructions should be followed.  Dosages are usually doubled when the water is cloudy, dirty or discolored.
When no other treatment is possible, 5 drops of tincture of iodine in a liter of water will be safe to drink after 30 minutes.  Cloudy or cold water requires 10 drops per liter and should stand up to several hours prior to use if possible.
Soak fruits and vegetables in a chlorine solution for 20 minutes.  Two tablespoons of liquid chlorine bleach in one gallon (4 liters) of water. The solution should be 10 degrees C more than the fruits or vegetables to minimize the uptake of wash water.
Rinse with potable water after soaking, drip dry and store in refrigerator.
Note:  The container used for treating fruit and vegetables must be large enough to allow sufficient exposure and place a lightweight lid on top to ensure that the fruit and vegetables are completely submerged.
All meat and poultry should always be cooked well‑done, ordered well‑done in restaurants and should be eaten hot, so as to eliminate the risk of acquiring tapeworm, toxoplasmosis and trichinosis.
Any food that is prepared in advance and then left to stand should be avoided.  Bacteria multiply rapidly when food is kept warm but not hot.  Cold items can rarely be kept cold enough to retard bacterial growth.

For additional information on causes and preventative measures on cholera please contact the Center for Disease Control’s website at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/cholera_g.htm.   Information on health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may also be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.  For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en.  Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.
For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Cautions, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).   

American citizens can register their presence in Zimbabwe via the Internet at http://harare.usembassy.gov or in person at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, located at 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue  (Tel.: 263-4-250-593/4/5).   In the event of an after-hours emergency, please call the above number and ask to be transferred to the duty officer.  

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Jayne A. Howell
Consular Section Chief
American Embassy Harare