KAZAKHSTAN AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE SEPTEMBER 23

UNCLAS ALMATY 003415 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN MUDGE, AND EUR/RUS NOLL ALSO FOR EUR/PGI AYU, OES/IHA COMELLA AND SINGER, OES/STC NP/PTR CAMERON, EB/TPP/ATP, EB/TPP/BTA AND INR/REA USDA FAS FOR ITP FOR MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP WETZEL FAS PLEASE PASS TO APHIS AND FSIS DEFENSE FOR USDP/CTR AWEBER HHS FOR WSTEIGER, PBUDASHEWITZ CDC FOR SBLOUNT, EMCCRAY BRUSSELS PLEASE PASS TO APHIS/FENANDEZ ANKARA FOR FAS ATTACHE HIGGISTON GENEVA FOR HEALTH ATTACHE TASHKENT FOR ESTH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR TBIO ECON RS ETRD PGOV KZ POLITICAL SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE SEPTEMBER 23 REF: (A) STATE 153802 (B) ALMATY 3230 (C) ALMATY 2842 ¶1. Summary: This cable responds to the directive in paragraph 5 of Reftel. No/no further reports of human or animal cases of AI have been made since Ref B. CDC's Central Asia Region representatives are continuing their informal, but fruitful cooperation with Kazakhstani authorities. End Summary. ¶2. Since the end of all quarantine periods, no further evidence of a new AI outbreak has been discovered or reported in Kazakhstan. However, GOK efforts to improve surveillance and preparedness continue, and the GOK has consulted informally with CDC as it continues to refine its policy. ¶3. Specifically, the Ministry of Health has agreed in principle to continued consultation with CDC on improving its AI surveillance infrastructure. Additionally, senior health officials have asked for CDC's opinion on such subjects as vaccinating at-risk human populations with human influenza vaccine and the usefulness of stockpiling anti- viral medications such as Tamiflu. CDC has shared its impressions from those consultations with WHO and the World Bank. ¶4. Results are expected soon in an epidemiological investigation conducted into the suspected human case in Golubovka village (Pavlodar oblast, Ref C). The investigation involved tests of sera collected from 146 human subjects, including poultry farm workers and people believed to have been in contact with the then-suspected human AI victim. The investigation included antibody tests of the sera to exclude any theoretically possible sub- clinical (i.e. asymptomatic) cases of AI. ¶5. Minimize for Dushanbe considered. Ordway NNNN