Avian Influenza Situation Update in Turkey

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006514 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/RUS, OES/STC, EB/TPP/ATP, EB/TPP/BTA HHS FOR WSTEIGER/PBUDASHEWITZ FAS FOR ITP/MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP/WETZEL FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS VIENNA PASS APHIS BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ GENEVA PASS HEALTH ATTACHE SENSITIVE E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: ETRD EAGR KPAO TBIO AMED TU SUBJECT: Avian Influenza Situation Update in Turkey Ref: (A) Ankara 5119 (B) Ankara 6105 (C) Ankara 6138 (D) Ankara 6232 (E) Ankara 6291 (F) Ankara 6430 Sensitive but unclassified. Not for Internet Distribution. ¶1. Summary. The Government of Turkey (GOT) plans to lift the quarantine restrictions in the AI affected zone if new lab results determine that there is no sign of AI in the 7 kilometer radius outside the quarantine zone near Balikesir. The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed reports in the press that 153 chickens died in Inegol, Bursa over the weekend. Initial reports indicate an outbreak of Newcastle disease, although test results are not expected back until after the local holidays. End summary. -------------- - The Quarantine Restrictions May Soon Be lifted -------------- - ¶2. (U) According to Turkish law, the quarantine restrictions in the AI affected area near Balikesir can be lifted if there are no new confirmed AI incidents in the area of the outbreak for 21 days following the outbreak. Since the outbreak was reported on October 7, the GOT could have technically lifted the quarantine restrictions from the 3 kilometer radius around the infected farm on October 28. ¶3. (U) However, the GOT decided to take more precautions before lifting the restrictions. The government sent blood samples from poultry in the 7 kilometer observation area outside of the quarantine zone to a lab to be tested for AI. Results are pending. If the results are negative, indicating that there is no AI present in that region, then the quarantine restrictions will be removed. GOT continues to monitor for other AI occurrences in the country. -------------- A New Outbreak? -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed reports in the press that 153 chickens died in Inegol, Bursa over the weekend and that 750 additional birds were killed as precautionary measures. Inegol is in the same region as the first outbreak near Balikesir. The Turkish press indicated that this was not a case of Avian Influenza but rather one of Newcastle Disease, which is closely related to AI and also quite serious. The Ministry of Agriculture sent samples to the lab and expects to receive results next week. The lab results will determine whether the deaths of these birds can be attributed to AI, Newcastle Disease or something else. -------------- Government Assistance -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Ministry of Social Security announced lat week that social security debts of all of the affected poultry processors will be postponed for six months. ¶6. (SBU) It was also announced that, for a certain time period, the GOT is issuing unemployment pensions from the national unemployment fund to those whose jobs were affected by the AI outbreak in order to keep employment at current levels. This indicates that the government believes that this is only a temporary disruption and that the jobs should still be there after a few months. -------------- Poultry Industry -------------- ¶7. (SBU) According to the Turkish Poultry Association, immediately following the outbreak, poultry sales were down to ten percent but have now risen back to 65 percent of normal levels. This industry expects that the government's decision to lift the quarantine will help to further boost poultry sales in the coming weeks. However, the industry is still cautious since it is still the bird migratory season and the Hatay region may be vulnerable to another outbreak. Given the drastic decrease in poultry production in Turkey, the feed industry will also be affected. However, it is hard to predict just how much at this point. The growth of the poultry sector will take a long time to get back to normal, pre-AI, levels. MCELDOWNEY