RDB/Tourism & Conservation, October 2009

The Rwanda Development Board-Tourism and Conservation office would like to inform the general public and all those with intention of visiting that the Rwanda is open for tourism despite the recent confirmation of cases with Influenza A H1N1 (swine flu).

According to Rosette Rugamba, the Deputy C.E.O in charge of Tourism and Conservation, "there should be no cause for alarm because the Ministry of Health has instituted appropriate measures to minimize and eliminate the further spread of the disease." Rwanda Development Board-Tourism and Conservation would like to assure the general public that tourism activities are going on as usual.
Individuals and tourists visiting the country and national parks are advised to adopt a greater sense of personal hygiene:

• Always cover the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing,
• Carefully wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer
• If you do not feel well and develop severe symptoms of influenza-like illness eg. fever, sore throat, please, should seek treatment to the nearest health facility
• In case you are already at the national park, please pay careful attention to your Guide's briefing and strictly follow all the instructions; for cases of wildlife susceptible to human diseases like gorillas, try not to break the distance of 7 meters/22 feet from the animals.

An emergency working group has been put in place and the Ministry of Health, through TRAC Plus, the National Reference Laboratory and other institutions, is monitoring the situation closely. The Ministry of Health has more than 14,000 treatment doses of Tamiflu, a drug used to treat the virus. The ministry also has availed protective equipment and continues to work on improving the emergency preparedness capacity and surveillance.

Information to the public is available through a toll-free hotline (3334, 3335). Additional information is available through the following web site: www.tracrwanda.org.rw www.tracrwanda.org.rw

Rwanda Development Board-Tourism and Conservation will continue to advise about relevant development and in case of any potential risk, RDB-Tourism and Conservation will be the first to advise accordingly

For more information on Rwanda’s bird life please Contact please contact RDB tourism and Conservation office or email reservation@rwandatourism.com or visit our website at www.rwandatourism.com www.rwandatourism.com

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