SLOVENIA ON CONTROLLING AVIAN FLU

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000807

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/NCE,
DEPT FOR OES/DANIEL SINGER AND REBECCA DALEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO SENV ECON EAGR EAID PREL SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA ON CONTROLLING AVIAN FLU

REF: (A) STATE 209622

(B) LJUBLJANA 0757
(C) LJUBLJANA 0652
(D) LJUBLJANA 0614


1. (U) Summary: On 21 November, Econoff and Econ
Assistant met with Simona Salamon, Deputy Chief
Veterinary Officer at the Slovene Veterinary
Administration, to discuss Slovenia's efforts to control
avian flu. Salamon has the lead in the GOS for all avian
flu related matters. Following is a summary of the
measures that the GOS has undertaken to increase
Slovenia's preparedness. (Note: The Veterinary
Administration has overall responsibility in Slovenia for
avian flu, but Salamon was only able to address ref A
animal-related questions. The Slovene Ministry of Health
manages avian flu concerns related to human health. Due
to an avian flu outbreak simulation currently being
conducted, however, Slovene Health Ministry officials
were unavailable to meet with Econoff this week and,
therefore, ref A questions addressing human health will
be answered septel.) End summary.

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PREPAREDNESS/COMMUNICATION
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2. (U) As reported ref B, as one of the prerequisites for
EU accession, in 2004 Slovenia prepared a detailed action
plan to address a possible avian flu outbreak. In
October 2005, the plan was reviewed by the EU Commission
and updated by the Slovenian Veterinary Administration.
The plan offers precise, step-by-step instructions for
government institutions on how to handle an outbreak of
avian flu. The Veterinary Administration has posted this
action plan on its website
(http://www.sigov.si/vurs/ai.php) along with other useful
information on avian influenza for the general public.


3. (U) Post notes that the GOS has been very forthcoming
with information on avian flu. Open and frank
discussions with GOS interlocutors in recent months lead
Post to believe that, in the event of an outbreak, the
GOS would do everything in its power to inform the
public. There was widespread coverage and extensive
information provided by the government in a suspected
case of bird flu in October. Moreover, according to
Salamon, one of the highest priorities of the GOS is
ensuring its preparedness for any potential outbreak.
Salamon noted that her job content of late is "all bird
flu, all the time" and that her senior management is
closely engaged with all activities.


4. (U) According to Salamon, Slovenia has worked very
closely with the EU on bird flu issues prior to and since
its accession. As a member state, Slovenia's legal
structure as it relates to bird flu is harmonized with
the EU. In addition to working with the EU on
containment and response issues, Slovenia also cooperates
closely with its neighbors, particularly Croatia, where
cases of bird flu were recently confirmed. (Note: Since
the confirmation of bird flu, poultry imports from
Croatia have been banned. End note.) In addition, the
Veterinary Administration cooperates very closely with
the Ministry of Health's Public Health Section as well as
with the police, fire brigade, and civil
protection/disaster relief agency.


5. (U) As in other countries, the media report regularly
on suspected avian flu cases in nearby countries as well
as the Slovene responses to them. Media outlets have
also carried reports discussing the possibility of
similar occurrences in Slovenia. Brochures prepared by
public health officials with information regarding avian
flu have been distributed widely in health and other
public institutions throughout urban and rural Slovenia.
At the main international airport near the capital,
posters with avian flu information have been placed
throughout the building explaining to tourists how to
lower the risk of infection and transmission of the
virus.

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SURVEILLANCE/DETECTION
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6. (U) Slovenia's Veterinary Administration, according to
Salamon, is very capable of identifying any new strain of
influenza in the animal population. Salamon noted that
the Administration has recently received positive reviews
of its capabilities from both the EU and the USDA.
Salamon told Econoff that the Slovene National Veterinary
Institute performs all of the diagnostics for suspected
avian flu cases in Slovenia. She said the Institute is

well equipped to do all necessary testing and that tests
are completed within 72 hours. Salamon further said
that, following tests in Slovenia, any suspected avian
flu cases are then sent to the EU reference laboratory in
Weybridge, U.K. Based on Post's discussions with the
Veterinary Administration, it does not appear that
Slovenia needs or seeks any assistance in bird flu
subtyping from international or U.S.-based organizations.

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RESPONSE/CONTAINMENT
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7. (U) To the best of Post's knowledge, in the event of
an outbreak of avian flu, the GOS is prepared to respond
rapidly and take all necessary means to control spread of
the disease. The aforementioned action plan spells out
all the necessary guidelines to contain the spread of the
disease through culling, disinfection, and limitations on
animal movement. In addition, as reported ref B, the GOS
has banned certain imports. Currently, imports of
poultry (including eggs, feather products, and stuffed
birds) and other birds are prohibited from the following
countries: Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Laos, China
and Hong Kong, Malaysia, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, North
Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and Croatia.


8. (U) On 14 October, Health Minister Andrej Brucan
announced that Slovenia is preparing a stockpile of the
anti-viral drug Tamiflu. Brucan said the Ministry would
purchase sufficient stock to supply approximately one
quarter of the population or roughly 500,000 doses. The
Ministry expects to receive the drug in two separate
consignments beginning in early 2006.

ROBERTSON


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