Mandated by Congress, the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) provides the legal foundation to facilitate secure and efficient operations of U.S. missions abroad, and of foreign missions and international organizations in the United States. In doing so, OFM serves the interests of the American public, the American diplomatic community abroad, and the foreign diplomatic community residing in the United States to see that all diplomatic benefits, privileges, and immunities are properly exercised in accordance with federal and international laws. As part of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, OFM works closely with the Bureau's Protective Liaison Division and the Foreign Missions Branch of the U.S. Secret Service to ensure the safety and security of the foreign missions and their personnel.
The Office of Foreign Missions has four missions:
Public health officials within the United States and throughout the world are investigating outbreaks of 2009-H1N1 influenza (swine flu). The outbreak is ongoing and additional cases are expected. For more information concerning 2009-H1N1 influenza, please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: www.cdc.gov/swineflu. For specific information on travel precautions and an update on the affected areas, please visit: www.cdc.gov/travel or www.pandemicflu.gov. For additional information on pandemic influenza please visit the Office of Foreign Missions website: www.state.gov/ofm/c19455.htm.
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