DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GOAM ADDRESSING THE THREAT OF

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001562

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO ECON PREL SOCI GA AM KSTH WHO RU AZ
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GOAM ADDRESSING THE THREAT OF
AVIAN FLU

REF: STATE 153802


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.


2. (SBU) On August 23, Ambassador delivered reftel points to
Haik Melik Darbinyan, First Deputy Minister of Health, Prof.
Vladimir Davidiants, Chief of Public Health and Sanitation,
and Liana Torosyan, Ministry of Health Coordinator of
Influenza Response. Davidiants was introduced as the GOAM's
primary point of contact for avian flu. According to
Darbinyan, the Ministries of Health and Agriculture are
drafting a National Flu Preparedness Plan that will be
submitted for inter-ministerial review by September 1. The
plan details preventative measures, vaccination protocols and
appropriate responses to an outbreak. Darbinyan requested
that a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) expert review the
draft plan once it is complete.


3. (SBU) Darbinyan told us the GOAM receives monthly updates
from the governments of Iran, Georgia and Russia concerning
the avian flu threat and is working closely with the CDC and
the World Health Organization. According to Darbinyan, the
GOAM and Azerbaijan have agreed to work together in the event
of a public health emergency. On August 2, the Ministry of
Agriculture announced a ban on Russian poultry in response to
the avian flu threat.


4. (SBU) Comment: The GOAM is well aware of the threat
posed by avian influenza and is taking steps to ensure that
proper preventative measures are in place and that there will
be an appropriate response should an outbreak occur. The
GOAM is working closely with neighboring countries and
international organizations. CDC epidemiologist Scott McNabb
plans to visit Yerevan in late September as part of a program
to combat tuberculosis. Post suggests that the CDC extend
his mission to include a review of the GOAM's Flu
Preparedness Plan.
EVANS