EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH BLOCKS SAMPLES FOR CDC

UNCLAS CAIRO 009351 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EG PREL TBIO SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH BLOCKS SAMPLES FOR CDC FLU VACCINES ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Egyptian Ministry of Health (MOH) is currently preventing the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-3) in Cairo from bringing influenza tissue samples into Egypt for testing at NAMRU's labs. Interventions at various levels have failed to move the GOE, significantly hampering NAMRU's work. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The GOE blocked avian tissue samples from Ukraine from entering the country on December 11. Post intervened with the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs as well as the Prime Minister's Office in an unsuccessful effort to unblock the samples. The MOH granted NAMRU-3 verbal approval on December 17 to import human samples from Baku, but rescinded its approval on December 18. NAMRU-3 had experienced a similar problem in October, when the MOH blocked some avian tissue samples. These samples were later released after discussions with Embassy officials but the GOE is proving less flexible now. ¶3. (SBU) NAMRU has been bringing tissue samples to Egypt for testing since the 1950s; such testing is central to NAMRU's work as a WHO reference laboratory. This is the height of the flu season, and NAMRU is currently collecting samples from all countries in the region. Other shipments of human samples will arrive from Kyrgyzstan on December 29, and Uzbekistan and Oman on December 26. Quick testing of tissue samples is needed for tracking the spread of avian influenza, developing vaccines for ordinary human influenza, and for training. NAMRU-3 does not expect to find any positive results for H5N1 avian influenza; the samples are used for detecting typical influenza strains. The samples are coming from countries where there have been no confirmed cases of AI. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: The blocking of avian tissue samples, while frustrating, is something that might have been overcome with time and working level discussion, as it was in October. The shift in policy may be attributable to Ministry of Health Under Secretary Sayed Nasser's absence from the country for the past 2 weeks. During this time his colleague, Under Secretary Magda Raka, has blocked all NAMRU samples apparently fearing a negative news story that Egypt is importing avian influenza through NAMRU. With Nasser's expected return on December 20 we hope to reverse the new policy, but it is possible that Raka has lined up strong support at the Ministerial and even Prime Ministerial level. End comment. JONES