Warden Message
August 18, 2009

This is a notice to our community regarding the increased risk of acute diarrheal illnesses during the rainy season.

This notice serves as a reminder of the importance of preventive precautions to reduce personal risk of acquiring infectious diarrheal illnesses (including Salmonella, Shigella, Cholera and others).  On August 14, Ethiopian government officials advised the general public, including those residing in Addis Ababa, to take the necessary precautions because of numerous reports of serious diarrheal illness around the country.  A combination of factors, including heavy rains, improper sewage disposal and disruption from road construction, may lead to fecal contamination of water supplies.  As a result, there is an increased risk of acquiring these infections when consuming contaminated and uncooked foods.  Shoes that have been in contact with contaminated surface water after heavy rains may also lead to cross contamination of hands leading to inadvertent infection.

Should an individual develop bloody or profuse dehydrating diarrhea, with or without low-grade fever, abdominal pain or vomiting, they should consult a health professional immediately. 

Health professionals strongly recommend:
- Strict adherence to personal hygiene, hand washing with soap and water before handling or eating food.
- Eating food that is cooked and served hot
- Avoiding fruits and vegetables unless you have personally peeled and soaked them in a bleach-treated solution  before eating.
- Drinking only distilled or bottled water/beverages and using ice made from distilled, boiled or chlorinated water.  This includes avoidance of rinsing toothbrushes with tap water.  IF THE LOCAL TAP WATER IS NOT SAFE TO DRINK, IT IS NOT SAFE TO BRUSH TEETH WITH EITHER!
- If you develop voluminous watery diarrhea, start oral rehydration quickly and seek medical care immediately for possible IV rehydration.  (The massive and rapid fluid loss with some types of intestinal infection can make the disease fatal).

For more information regarding these diseases or to obtain Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel notices, you may dial the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) from within the U.S., and at 1-404-639-3534 from overseas, or visit their website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.

 For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs internet website at http://travel.state.gov/, where the current Worldwide Caution, 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. 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 AM to 8 PM 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/.