TURKISH AGRICULTURE MINISTER ON AVIAN FLU

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 000137

SIPDIS

USAID FOR TROSTLE, BLANCHET AND CARROLL
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FAS FOR ITP/MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP/WETZEL, FAS/JDEVER
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ROME FOR US MISSION TO FAO

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: TBIO AMED EAID CASC SENV EAGR KPAO TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH AGRICULTURE MINISTER ON AVIAN FLU


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1. Summary. Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Eker, in a meeting with Ambassador January 13,
reported on the progress made in responding to the recent
outbreak of Avian Influenza in Turkey and agreed to a
proposed US assessment team visit the week of January 16.
He appealed for US contributions toward a World Bank-
recommended package of measures designed to improve Turkey's
capacities to deal with AI. Eker emphasized that the AI
outbreaks here are along migratory bird flyways that cross
the eastern, central and southern parts of the country and
that the spread of the disease in poultry is not related to
trade in birds. The Minister noted that children in rural
areas are particularly at risk. Additional measures need to
be taken to educate rural families about the risks
associated with this disease. Eker claimed the ministry has
received informal reports of AI outbreaks in Georgia,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and Syria, including the
culling of 50,000 birds in Iran, but he offered no specific
evidence. End Summary.

Current Situation
--------------


2. Eker said the ministry has confirmed 19 incidents of AI
in 13 provinces; 31 further incidents are suspected in an
additional 18 provinces, meaning that AI is confirmed or
suspected in over one-third of Turkey's 81 provinces. The
minister underscored the fact that a single case of AI might
only be one bird or one backyard farm. A total of 455,000
birds have been culled as of January 12. Eker declined to
predict the number of birds that may eventually require
culling, but noted that backyard, domesticated family
poultry totals an estimated 10 million birds (with 300
million total in Turkey, including those at commercial
operations). Three kilometer quarantine areas have been
established around each suspected site, and all birds are
being culled within the quarantine areas. In addition,
there is a ten kilometer surveillance zone in which all
transport is being disinfected and all trade in poultry and
poultry products forbidden. Provincial governors are using
local police and Gendarme to enforce the quarantines.

A Brief History of AI in Turkey
--------------


3. Eker provided an overview of Turkey's response to the
October and December AI outbreaks in Turkey and described

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the initiatives the government put in place to detect and
eradicate any incidents of AI. Prior to the October
outbreak and after receiving reports of AI in wild birds in
Russia, the government, in conjunction with the European
Union, conducted an AI crisis management exercise. Eker
said the authorities took very proactive and aggressive
measures in October and again in mid-December as information
about further AI outbreaks first appeared. In October after
the first outbreak, the GOT began taking samples,
particularly in lakes where migratory birds were present.
Over 400 samples of birds and manure were taken as part of
detection procedures. Letters were sent to provincial
offices outlining the precautions that needed to be taken
for poultry, particularly on small land holdings.

Migratory Birds Cause of Spread
--------------


4. The Minister provided evidence that the spread of the
disease in December and January were due primarily to
migratory birds and not from the sale of infected poultry.
He cited several incidents of AI infected dead wild birds in
different areas of the country including Bitlis, Erzincan,
Beypazari (near Ankara) and Aydin. He had maps showing
known migratory flyways through Turkey and each AI incident.
In all cases the outbreaks of AI were along migratory
routes.

Minister: "Commercial Farms Not a Problem
--------------


5. Eker said the December/January outbreaks of AI in are
taking place in mostly remote, rural areas among small
household flocks of small numbers of birds (2-5) kept for
family use and not significantly traded. A visit to any
rural town will show domestic poultry running freely in
yards and along roadsides. Given their remote and dispersed
nature, these family flocks are not sources for spreading AI
more widely among poultry, but also mean that precautionary
measures are difficult. The Minister took pains to
emphasize that integrated commercial poultry operations are
not at risk and that meat from these operations is safe.
(Note: We have observed that the commercial sector has been
very active in protecting facilities and educating local
farmers. Many companies are providing training and
initiating their own surveillance of farms near commercial
operations. However, despite these actions, poultry

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consumption has decreased by 90 percent in recent weeks and
according to one private sector representative, the industry
is losing $40 million a month due to the crisis. End note.)

Children Particularly at Risk
--------------


6. The Minister noted that government needs to be more
active in protecting children who are particularly at risk
to contracting the disease. Children often have close
contact with their family flocks. Eker had met with the
Dogubayazit family whose children died from AI in early
January. The oldest child had slaughtered sick birds and
the two middle children plucked them. By contrast, the
youngest child who had only more casual contact recovered,
and the parents had not become ill at all. Recently the GOT
had sent home information about the disease attached to
report cards given to the children.

Further Steps
--------------


7. The Minister stressed that he believes the government is
taking effective actions and being fully transparent with
the public and the international community. He underscored
the need for the government to take additional steps to help
educate people and address the economic impact of the
crisis. On January 14, a deputy prime minister will meet
with government and private sector officials in all related
fields to discuss the crisis and ways to address it. (Note:
The Turkish press is reporting that the meeting will
actually be chaired by Prime Minister Erdogan. End note.)


8. Eker claimed the ministry had received informal reports
among all of Turkey's neighbors to the south and east. He
said Iran has reportedly culled some 50,000 birds, and
another country has worked to vaccinate poultry. When
pressed, however, he did not provide any evidence of AI in
these countries.

Request for US Help
--------------


9. Eker and his deputy referred to an assessment and
proposed package of measures developed in late 2005 as part
of a World Bank initiative that he said was supported by
AID. The package identified needed improvements in

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laboratory capabilities, diagnostics, training and equipment
for veterinarians, safety clothing and gear for those
culling birds, and compensation for peasant farmers. Turkey
expected some help will come to support this work via World
Bank loans and from bilateral donors, and Eker urged that
the US consider supporting this effort as soon as possible,
preferably ahead of World Bank loan approval. (Note:
Separately, the Turkish press reported January 13 that the
EU is redirecting 4 million Euros for Turkey's AI efforts
from already planned EU assistance for Turkey. End note.)


10. Eker also noted that he will be in Beijing for the AI
conference that begins January 17. He expressed interest in
meeting with Ambassador Powell. A ministry staffer asked
for help in changing Eker's speaking slot at the conference;
embassy suggested the Turkish embassy in Beijing may be
better placed to influence the AI conference program.

U.S. Support
--------------


11. The Ambassador thanked Eker for the information and
commended him and the government for their work in
responding to the crisis. He underscored the concern and
sympathy in the United States for the situation in Turkey.
Ambassador informed Eker that two CDC experts will arrive
shortly to assist with WHO and FAO work, and he said that an
interagency USG assessment team plans to visit Turkey and
possibly the Caucasus beginning o/a January 16 to assess the
situation, determine where there may be gaps and lessons to
be learned, and consider the issue of further USG support.
Any consideration of the World Bank project would flow from
that visit, he said. Eker expressed appreciation for the
assessment team and directed his staff to work with the
embassy on arrangements for it.

Wilson