EUROPE

United Kingdom, March 15, 2001 – The United Kingdom is experiencing an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease or FMD (known in the United States as Hoof and Mouth Disease). While there is no risk to humans, FMD is an acute, highly contagious, degenerative viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals, such as cattle and pigs. The disease is not normally fatal, but it can devastate livestock and other animals. People can spread the disease if they come into contact with infected animals/areas as the virus can ride along on articles of clothing and footwear. Travel in the UK has been affected. In order to prevent further spread of the disease, access to rural areas has been restricted. Roads in the vicinity of farms where FMD has been detected are closed. Many footpaths, rural tourist sites (including Hampton Court Home Park, Stonehenge and National Trust Tenanted Farms), parks and zoos are closed. To minimize inconvenience, travelers should consult their travel agent or tour operator before traveling to the UK. For day-to-day updates consult the following web sites: the U.K. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (provides details on travel and access restrictions and other relevant information) and the British Information Services. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking measures to guard against the introduction of FMD into the United States. The USDA urges travelers from any country infected by FMD to avoid farms, zoos, fairs or animal facilities for 5 days prior to travel, and to launder or dry clean all clothing and outerwear. Soiled luggage and personal items should also be cleaned. Current information on FMD and related issues are online at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Please consult the U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for the UK.

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), March 15, 2001 – The U.S. Department of State warns Americans to defer all travel to Tetovo and the area of Macedonia north of Tetovo and Skopje and west of Kumanovo, due to periodic security incidents including armed clashes between Macedonian security forces and ethnic Albanian radicals. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling to this region and may be subject to other travel restrictions in the future. Additionally, Americans should exercise caution when traveling in the area of western Macedonia between Struga and Tetovo. All Americans in Macedonia are urged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Skopje and to consult the Embassy for updated safety and security information. Due to the security situation, there have been periodic closures of the border between Macedonia and Kosovo. Currently there are restrictions on cross-border traffic and the border may close again on short notice. Please consult the Consular Information Sheet for Macedonia.

Kyrgyz Republic, March 14, 2001 – The U.S. Department of State urges Americans to avoid all travel to areas of the Kyrgyz Republic to the south and west of the provincial capital of Osh, and particularly along the Kyrgyz-Tajik and Kyrgyz-Uzbek borders. The security situation in these areas remains fluid, volatile, and dangerous. There is a continuing threat of terrorist violence in southern Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Foreigners have been taken hostage in southern Kyrgyzstan; one incident in the summer of 2000 involved American citizens. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling to areas of the Kyrgyz Republic south and west of Osh and in rural areas along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. Due to the presence of land mines in the Batken oblast and along the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, the U.S. Embassy strongly recommends that Americans avoid these areas. In 1999, armed militants from Tajikistan launched an offensive into the southern Kyrgyz Republic and took 4 Japanese citizens hostage. In August 2000, members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) again crossed the Tajik-Kyrgyz border and engaged Kyrgyz security forces. Fighting between Kyrgyz forces and the IMU resulted in Kyrgyz fatalities. During this time, militants from the IMU also took 4 American climbers hostage. Americans in the Kyrgyz Republic are urged to contact the U.S. Embassy for updated security information. Please consult the Consular Information Sheet for the Kyrgyz Republic.

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), March 6, 2001 – Americans should defer all non-emergency travel to Kosovo. The border between Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has been temporarily closed by the Macedonian government in response to violent incidents around the village of Tanusevci in northern Macedonia. The airport in Pristina, Kosovo remains open. The Macedonian government has reported that the timetable for reopening the border depends on the security situation. Future border closures may occur with short notice in response to changes in the security situation. Neither the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade nor the U.S. Office in Pristina, Kosovo is currently staffed to provide consular services to Americans. As a result of the border closing in northern Macedonia, the ability of the U.S. Embassy in Skopje to provide routine consular services to American citizens in Kosovo will necessarily be restricted. Please consult the Consular Information Sheet for the FRY.

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