Warden Message
Contaminated Cooking Oil
May 22, 2008

The Ethiopian Ministry of Health has announced that a number of recent deaths rumored to have been caused by Avian Influenza or Ebola were in fact the result of consuming contaminated cooking oil.  Though one of the reactions to the contaminated oil is respiratory distress, there are others that are not consistent with Avian Influenza or a Hemorrhagic Fever.   To date, five deaths have been reported.

The oil was allegedly produced locally in small factories and sold in bottles to roadside vendors and possibly to supermarkets.  There is no trade name.  There is evidence that the seed of the plant Argemone mexicana was used because of its high oil-yielding capacity.  This seed, which looks like mustard seed, can cause a condition involving swelling of the legs and feet and ultimately congestive heart failure.  The Ministry of Health is currently attempting to confiscate and test oil that fits this description. 

To avoid ingesting contaminated cooking oil, the Embassy recommends that Americans avoid purchasing locally-made products that are unlabelled and not factory sealed.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found. 
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, 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).

The U.S. Embassy is located at Entoto Avenue, P.O. Box 1014, in Addis Ababa.  American citizens with questions or concerns may telephone the Consular Section at 251-11-124-2424; emergency after-hours telephone: 251-11-124-2400; consular fax: 251-11-124-2435; website: http://addisababa.usembassy.gov/.