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The Minister for Magic has requested that I make a general announcement that she hopes will settle the fears and answer some of the questions regarding illnesses among our muggle labourers.

It was suggested recently by a known enemy of the state that there is a new and dangerous disease spreading among the muggle and mudblood populations; moreover, the suggestion was made that this disease poses a threat to wizarding citizens. This is a lie that was told to stir fears and anxieties and disrupt life in the Protectorate.

In fact, there have been many health problems in the muggle camps this fall, but nothing startling or worrisome. Many wizards have required treatment for flu and colds this year; muggles are not immune to these diseases, and in fact often suffer more severe cases. Moreover flu is extremely contagious and will spread readily from person to person.

While flu is no serious threat to any wizard, it is quite unpleasant. To protect yourself, we suggest use of the bubblehead charm, scourgification spells, and regular handwashing if you must be in close proximity to any muggles who might be harbouring illness. St Mungo's has also made a pamphlet available with useful charms for containing infection and discouraging the spread of illnesses.

Flu may also thoroughly debilitate your muggle labourers. To maintain efficiency among your workforce, we suggest the following precautions for anyone who uses muggle or muggleborn labour:

1. If you permit your muggle labourers to visit muggles at other sites, all such visits must be indefinitely postponed.

2. If you have muggles who become sick, they should immediately be isolated and cared for by other muggles who have already been exposed.

3. Muggles who have recovered and are no longer feverish no longer require isolation, and are excellent candidates for providing care to the sick as they are no longer vulnerable to the contagion. As St Mungo's is tracking illness and recovery times we would appreciate notification as your muggles return to full health. PLEASE NOTE that while a fever-reducing charm is an excellent way to make an ill wizard more comfortable, it does not make a sick muggle any less infectious. Muggles may not be considered 'recovered' until a day after the fever has gone on its own.

4. If you cannot provide isolation space then you may return your sick muggles to the muggle camps and request a supply of healthy workers from Muggle Domestication. The muggles currently being sent out are being drawn from the reserve pool and may be somewhat disorientated; nonetheless we expect them to perform adequately when given simple tasks.

We will warn you that we cannot guarantee that you will be able to receive the same muggles after they recover, so if you have invested resources in training you may wish to provide their care yourself.

We have also discovered an outbreak of tuberculosis at another camp. Like flu, tuberculosis is no threat to wizard citizens. However, as the potion that cures it tastes rather unpleasant, we recommend the same reasonable precautions as for the flu to avoid exposure. St Mungo's has a brochure on distinguishing tuberculosis from flu. Any muggles with tuberculosis should be promptly returned to the camps. An isolation camp is being established to contain this particular outbreak.

The illnesses this autumn have been thoroughly inconvenient. They are, I hasten to repeat again, NO THREAT TO WIZARDS. However, since we wish our muggle labourers to return to peak efficiency as soon as possible, we would appreciate your cooperation.

Citizens with questions may contact my office or ask them here, though I am extremely busy and cannot guarantee an immediate response. We at Protectorate Affairs do strive for openness and transparency with our citizens.