Korean media have reported several instances of the H5N1 strain of avian flu in poultry on farms throughout South Korea since April 3. The Korean government continues to investigate these outbreaks. Last week the Korean government raised its alert level for avian influenza from "Yellow" (alert) to "Orange" (alarm), which means that all poultry raised within three kilometers of suspected bird flu locations will be slaughtered.

The Embassy urges Americans in South Korea to follow reports in the media and to take precautions as suggested by the State Department at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_3096.html

For additional up-to-date information on avian flu and a list of other sources of information, please see the Embassy website at http://seoul.usembassy.gov/avian_flu2.html. Also please visit the U.S. Government’s official clearinghouse on pandemics at www.pandemicflu.gov and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/.

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If you did not receive this message directly via the U.S. Embassy’s warden email system, we encourage you, as an American living or traveling in South Korea, to register with the Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website, http://travelregistration.state.gov.

Americans without internet access may register in person at the Embassy. Registration is a voluntary way of telling us that you, as an American citizen, are in Korea, whether for a long-term stay or for a short visit. In the event of an emergency, we use registration information to communicate with you. This could include a family emergency in which relatives in the United States request that the Embassy contact you. Registration also automatically signs you up to receive our emailed monthly newsletter and periodic warden messages about safety, security, and other topics, such as voting.

If you choose not to register, you may still subscribe to our email warden message system simply by providing your email address on the Embassy’s website at www.asktheconsul.org.

For the latest security information worldwide, Americans should regularly monitor the State Department’s website at travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the Unites States, or, for callers from outside the United States 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).

Embassy Seoul Contact Information:

American Citizen Services

U.S. Embassy Seoul

32, Sejongno, Jongno-gu

Seoul 110-710, Korea

Tel: 02-397-4114 (operator available 24 hours a day)

Fax: 02-397-4101

DSN: 721-4114

Website: http://www.asktheconsul.org/

Email: seoul_ACS@state.gov