internationalsos.com - Press releases

Military Intervention in Nigerian Oil Black Market, Confirmation of H5N1 Avian Flu in Southeastern Romania

International SOS, the world's leading provider of medical and security assistance services, international healthcare, and outsourced customer care, offers travel alerts to members traveling overseas to warn them of security risks or medical problems they may encounter at their destinations or en route. The following is a sample of locations that may represent current security and medical risks for global travelers.

Nigeria - January 02 - Security Forces Fight Oil Thieves
At least 12 people died in fighting between government security forces and oil thieves on December 31. Reports indicate security forces on patrol in the Oghara community of the Niger Delta region encountered the group as they were attempting to siphon oil from a regional pipeline. A gunfight broke out between the two sides with security forces killing 12 oil thieves.

Oil theft is very common in the Niger Delta region as organized criminal networks siphon oil off the pipelines and then sell it on the black market. Thieves and various ethnic militant groups are likely to continue focusing on oil industry targets for theft and attack.

The mood of the local population surrounding oil facilities is unpredictable and subject to rapid change. There are frequent strikes and protests, especially in the Niger Delta/Port Harcourt region. The possibility of peaceful demonstrations becoming violent should always be considered. Monitoring local and satellite based news services while traveling in Nigeria is recommended. Travelers seeking additional travel and security advice should contact International SOS.

Malaysia - December 30 - Closure of US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur
The United States (US) Embassy in Kuala Lumpur announced today it would close until further notice. The embassy website issued a Warden Message stating that the closure was in response to a security threat against the embassy.

The message concluded by stating that there was no information referring to a specific or credible threat to private American interests in Malaysia.

Although the announcement by the US Embassy is intentionally non-specific, it is important that International SOS Members do not ignore any potential threat of terrorism or serious incident in Malaysia. Terrorist attacks can occur with little or no warning, and the fact that a major attack has not occurred in Kuala Lumpur in the past should not suggest that such an attack is improbable.
International SOS advises its members that travel to Malaysia can proceed at this time. As a prudent measure, International SOS recommends that members in Malaysia should minimize time spent in and around western diplomatic missions in Kuala Lumpur.

Romania - December 29 - H5N1 confirmed in Romania
Testing done in Britain has confirmed that samples sent from Romania contain the deadly avian flu virus. The samples were sent from areas of southeastern Romania where H5N1 was already suspected and reported. The results simply confirm that the areas of Modelu, Traian, Reviga, Odaile, Marsilieni and Tataru are affected by the disease. Prevention measures were enacted prior to this confirmation and continue. A total of 26 localities in Romania have reported flu infections among birds since October, and more than 100,000 birds have been culled. No humans have contracted the disease.

Avian influenza A/H5N1 has caused outbreaks in poultry in an increasing number of countries. Ukraine, Romania, China, Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand all reported outbreaks in December 2005. The information available to date indicates that the avian influenza virus has not yet acquired the ability to pass easily from person to person. For further information, see the International SOS Pandemic Preparedness Website. There, you can access the latest news, detailed information on flu-affected countries and pandemic preparedness planning information.

Medical and Security Alerts
International SOS alerts are compiled through numerous resources including physicians and security experts on the ground in 48 countries, and individuals coordinating information from a broad range of resources, including the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and the US State Department.

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