Information for Travelers

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Newsletter for American Citizens –
Volume 4: December, 2006
U,S. Consulate General, Calcutta, India

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Table of Contents

Pandemic Flu Preparedness DVD
2006 Federal Elections -- the Aftermath
Airline Check-in Procedures
Disease Outbreaks
ACS Unit Location & Hours (including upcoming holiday schedule)

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1. Pandemic Flu Preparedness DVD

The State Department’s Office of Medical Services recently prepared an excellent DVD for State Department employees to help them prepare for a possible influenza pandemic (e.g., a pandemic of bird flu or some other serious strain of influenza). Now the State Department has agreed to make this DVD available to private American citizens. The program contains useful information, including suggestions on how to avoid contagion at the office and other public places, and how to safely care for an ill family member in the home. Even if you do not have time to watch the DVD at this time, consider obtaining a copy for future reference in the event of an influenza pandemic.

If you would like a copy of the DVD, you can pick one up at the American Citizen Services Unit (please see our working hours below), or we can mail you a copy. To request that a copy of the DVD be mailed to you, please write to CalcuttaACS@state.gov, providing your full mailing address in India.

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2. 2006 Federal Elections -- the Aftermath.

Many Americans overseas participated in the recent U.S. Federal Elections by requesting and returning absentee ballots. Americans are often confused by the many different state requirements and deadlines for requesting and returning ballots. Within each state, each county (or in some case city) has a voting official responsible for that jurisdiction. Some voting officials are prompt about sending out ballots and voting information, while others are less so.

If you voted (or tried to vote) in the election, how was your experience? The Overseas Voter Foundation is conducting a survey to obtain comments from overseas voters regarding difficulties they faced in exercising their right to vote. If you would like to participate in this on-line survey, please visit If you voted (or tried to vote) in the election, how was your experience? The Overseas Voter Foundation is conducting a survey to obtain comments from overseas voters regarding difficulties they faced in exercising their right to vote. If you would like to participate in this on-line survey, please visit http://www.ovf-rava.org.

The Federal Voters Assistance Program (FVAP) is also interested in your feedback. Although they are not conducting a formal survey of voters’ experiences, they welcome comments on difficulties faced by overseas voters. You can send your comments to vote@fvap.ncr.gov.

Your comments will help to improve the manner in which overseas voters participate in the 2008 Federal Elections!

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3. Airline Check-in Procedures.

Travelers may have noticed that airlines have made a number of changes to airline check-in procedures in the last several months on account of various security-related threats towards flights headed to the United States. For example, on certain flights, travelers have been restricted on what items they can carry on board (most recently, limitations on liquids). Also, recommended check-in times have been extended for certain periods following a security threat. Often, restrictions are imposed for a period of time, and subsequently relaxed.

The Embassy advises travelers to carefully monitor their airline’s check-in procedures to avoid any unpleasant surprises at the airport!

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4. Disease Outbreaks.

Americans who live in or visit India should keep apprised of disease outbreaks that occur from time to time. Certain areas in India have regular seasonal outbreaks of serious diseases such as dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis. Other diseases, particularly mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and chikungunya, remain a frequent concern as well.

Your primary sources of information for updates on disease outbreaks as they occur from time to time are the websites for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) and the World Health Organization (www.who.int). Generally, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi does not issue warden messages relating to disease outbreaks, except in unusual circumstances, instead relying upon the expertise of these organizations on matters relating to health. The CDC website also provides information that is useful to anyone living in or traveling to India to maintain good health, such as advice on safe food and water handling, and suggestions for appropriate vaccinations.

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5. ACS Location & Hours and Upcoming Holidays

Our hours: The American Citizen Services Unit is open to the public from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. We are available outside of these hours for emergency services. To contact us, call 91-33-3984-2400. You can also e-mail us at CalcuttaACS@state.gov.

Upcoming Indian and American holidays on which the Embassy will be closed are December 25 (Christmas Day), January 1 (New Year’s Day), January 15 (Martin Luther King’s Birthday), January 23 (Shree Panchami), January 26 (Republic Day), and February 19 (Presidents’ Day). The Consulate is always available for emergency services for American citizens.

If you believe you may have missed a recent "warden message" sent to American citizens in India, all recent warden messages issued by the Consulate are available on the Consulate website at http://calcutta.usconsulate.gov/warden_messages2.html.