Email From The British Embassy

[teletiger]

Anyone else here get an Email from the british embassy? It's titled avain flu and has got an attachment.

Not opened it yet, wondered if it might be a virus of some description.

regards

[Thomas_Merton]

Anyone else here get an Email from the british embassy? It's titled avain flu and has got an attachment.

Not opened it yet, wondered if it might be a virus of some description.

regards

Treat it as a virus, even if it´s not - what does the Embassy know about avian flu?

The UK has only ever had one dead swan.

And as your chances in Thailand of suffering as a result of the consequences of Avian flu are less than the risk of contracting malaria, I know how I would prioritise my precautions.

Besides, you are hardly likely to return to the UK with six live chickens strapped to your luggage, so what else can they tell you?

[meadish_sweetball]

I'd agree; do not open the attachment. Call the embassy tomorrow to inquire if they really sent it out or not.

Funny coincidence with 'virus' and 'avian flu'...

[britmaveric]

Delete!!!

[the scouser]

If the e-mail is truly from an individual at the embassy, the address will be of the format [email protected].

Scouse.

[Maestro]

Anyone else here get an Email from the british embassy? It's titled avain flu and has got an attachment.

Not opened it yet, wondered if it might be a virus of some description.

regards

Definitely a virus or worm. It could to be the worm W32.Bugbear.C@mm. See here.

Just think about it: if the embassy wanted to impart information about the avian flu by email to the British citizens in Thailand it would post it on its web site and give a link in the email. But why should they want to do this? Certainly, they do not have an email address of each and every British citizen in Thailand on file. Aside from that, avian flu is neither something new nor something urgent that would require such communication by the embassy.

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Maestro

P.S. Incidentally, your anti-virus program should have caught it.

Edited June 19, 2006 by maestro

[djc45]

Anyone else here get an Email from the british embassy? It's titled avain flu and has got an attachment.

Not opened it yet, wondered if it might be a virus of some description.

regards

I have been told that if you are resisted with the embassy they have sent e-mails out on this subject. My friend opened his without any problems

[LaoPo]

Anyone else here get an Email from the british embassy? It's titled avain flu and has got an attachment.

Not opened it yet, wondered if it might be a virus of some description.

regards

1. did you expect an email from the Embassy?

2. if so, how did they know your email-address?

3. Look at their official website if it says anything about a 'virus'

4. like someone suggested already: send them an email (thru official website) and ask if they do such things as sending (unasked for) emails.

LaoPo

[Maestro]

I have been told that if you are resisted with the embassy they have sent e-mails out on this subject. My friend opened his without any problems

And what did the attachment say?

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Maestro

[Guest endure]

The only question you have to ask is why on earth would the British Government (or Microsoft or The US government or Thaksin Shinawatra or any other large anonymous organisation) send YOU an email other than as a reply to an email that you sent them?

[Scott]

Sorry folks, I get emails from the embassy on a fairly regular basis. All kinds of information is sent out if your registered with them. Most of the information is not of any particular importance, just the usual travel advisories etc.

[dereklev]

If you are registered with the Embassy, as being resident in Thailand, they will send you emails.

I received the Avian Flu email about 6/7 months ago.

It is extremely informative and gives advice on precautions etc.

If you recently registered with the Embassy then I expect it is genuine.

[Tywais]

If you are registered with the Embassy, as being resident in Thailand, they will send you emails.

I received the Avian Flu email about 6/7 months ago.

It is extremely informative and gives advice on precautions etc.

If you recently registered with the Embassy then I expect it is genuine.

I agree with dereklev. It is highly unlikely they would send an e-mail if you have not registered with the embassy your details. The only odd thing is that an attachement was sent rather then a link to the information as one poster mentioned. If your virus scanner is configured to scan incoming e-mail/attachments then it should be ok. If you did not register with the embassy though I would be suspicious of it and dump it anyway.

[taxexile]

or have a look at it in an internet cafe.

[djc45]

I have been told that if you are resisted with the embassy they have sent e-mails out on this subject. My friend opened his without any problems

And what did the attachment say?

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Maestro

attached the bird flu attachment ........... from british embassy

Avian_Influenza___June_06.pdf

[taxexile]

wonderful stuff.

we wont help you , we wont repatriate you , we wont be able to obtain medication for you

youre on your own. read the published government guidelines.

its not so much what they say , its the supercilious way they say it.

pass the port ,will you , theres a good chap.

[PREM-R]

Just read the Pdf file and it seems that if there is an avian flu pandemic then basically "you are on your own" if you are a Brit here in Thailand. Nothing new there then!

[djc45]

wonderful stuff.

we wont help you , we wont repatriate you , we wont be able to obtain medication for you

youre on your own. read the published government guidelines.

its not so much what they say , its the supercilious way they say it.

pass the port ,will you , theres a good chap.

Yes not very comforting if you get the bird flu

[taxexile]

most people should take precautions to protect themselves and look after their own health with regard to this bird flu , but should an outbreak occur , i believe that it would be very difficult for any foriegner living here to get medication or treatment ahead of locals.

it is at times like that that our governments representatives here should be able and willing to offer some assistance to any genuine hardship cases.

[Thomas_Merton]

...

it is at times like that that our governments representatives here should be able and willing to offer some assistance to any genuine hardship cases.

Quite so!

And I bet you would even pay a special tax to cover the expence?

That is, if you pay your taxes?

[Prakanong2005]

most people should take precautions to protect themselves and look after their own health with regard to this bird flu , but should an outbreak occur , i believe that it would be very difficult for any foriegner living here to get medication or treatment ahead of locals.

it is at times like that that our governments representatives here should be able and willing to offer some assistance to any genuine hardship cases.

I bet there is enough Tamiflu in the Embassy for all staff and family members

I know the company I work at has enough for all first circle family members in case of a pandemic and we will be first in line for the vaccine too.

[Rinrada]

Risk of emergence

According to Maplecroft which provide our Imperial Servants @ the B.E with all their information...

the Risk of emergence of the Birdy Fly.....is as ....quote..

The countries rated ‘extreme’ risk for the emergence component of the PRI are as follows:

Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Burundi, China, Comoros, Germany, Grenada, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malta, Mauritius, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Korea, United Kingdom and Viet Nam.

So theres more chances of getting it back in Blighty....

Anyway even if her Brittanic Majesties sent out a gun boat they wouldnt let any of you potential colonials on the thing anyway in case you had the "mange"...must protect our population....

MPR...and pass the Port Jeeves..old chap....

[teletiger]

Yet any "refugee", economic or otherwise, is very welcome. Dose of clap?....not to worry old chap. HIV, Aids? T.B. mennengitis? we may be able to give you something for those puss filled boils old boy.

Hijacked an aircraft?? not to worry. Your 100 quid a night hotel room not up to scratch?....we'll fix that. What view would you like with your council house? Of course we'll educate your children. Move those old people out of the way nurse... We've got some sick refugees here.......How should I know....they're coughing.

[Maestro]

attached the bird flu attachment ........... from british embassy

Thank you! Interesting; a rather strange way for an embassy to go about it but at least it’s a PDF file, which is relatively safe.

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Maestro

[Maestro]

Yes not very comforting if you get the bird flu

Not talking about people in Thailand long-term, on annual extensions, how is a British resident, insured with the NHS, on a short vacation in Thailand covered? Does the NHS refund him the expenses if he needs emergency medical treatment for any reason? I couldn’t find anything specific on the website of the Department of Health, except that the NHS covers the EU and Switzerland, and for the rest of the world, this:

In most countries around the world you will have to pay for treatment so travellers are strongly advised to take out private health insurance. The UK has reciprocal healthcare agreements with some countries, which enables travellers to receive free or low cost emergency care.

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Maestro