Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT253
2006-03-03 13:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN REQUESTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR

Tags:  EAGR ETRD PGOV KFLU TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8985
RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0253 0621325
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031325Z MAR 06 CCY CTG HSD0049W
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHSD/SECSTATE WASHDC 7050
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 2514
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1607
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1263
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1146
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0326
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-2/REA/NMJIC-J2//
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/HSE/CCJ5//
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000253 

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDING PARA MARK AND CAPTION)

SENISITIVE

SIPDIS

FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR JAMES HIGGISTON
TASHKENT FOR ESTH (PUTNAM)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD PGOV KFLU TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN REQUESTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR
AI PREPAREDNESS

REFTEL: A) ASHGABAT 173

B) ASHGABAT 234 AND PREVIOUS
C) STATE 153802

Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet Distribution
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000253

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDING PARA MARK AND CAPTION)

SENISITIVE

SIPDIS

FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR JAMES HIGGISTON
TASHKENT FOR ESTH (PUTNAM)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD PGOV KFLU TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN REQUESTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR
AI PREPAREDNESS

REFTEL: A) ASHGABAT 173

B) ASHGABAT 234 AND PREVIOUS
C) STATE 153802

Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet Distribution

1.(U) PER REF C, POST PROVIDES A WEEKLY FOLLOW-UP ON AVIAN
INFLUENZA.


MOHMI REQUESTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM WHO
-------------- --


2. (SBU) ACCORDING TO THE WHO LOCAL LIAISON OFFICER,
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL INDUSTRY (MOHMI) DEPUTY
BYASHIM SOPYEV REQUESTED WHO ASSISTANCE FOR AI
PREPAREDNESS IN A LETTER ADDRESSED TO WHO/EURO MARC
DANZON. THE MOHMI REQUESTED WHO EXPERTISE IN BUILDING
TURKMENISTAN'S HEALTH SYSTEM CAPACITY IN THE AREAS OF
EPIDEMIC SURVEILLANCE, LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS AND INFECTION
CONTROL.

GOTX DETAINS SUSPECTED AI PATIENTS
--------------


3. (SBU) PER EARLIER GOTX REPORTS (REF C),THE GOTX
DETAINS ARRIVING AIR PASSENGERS SUSPECTED TO BE INFECTED
WITH AI. POST WAS ADVISED THAT TWO PASSENGERS WERE
RECENTLY QUARANTINED IN THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE HOSPITAL
UPON THEIR ARRIVAL FROM TURKEY. BOTH DETAINED
INDIVIDUALS TESTED NEGATIVE; ONE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
TUBERCULOSIS, THE OTHER WITH BRONCHITIS.

NO EVIDENCE OF AI IN TURKMENISTAN
--------------


4. (U) ON FEBRUARY 26, DEUTSCHE WELLE REPORTED THAT
APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 50 DEAD MIGRATORY FOWL WERE FOUND IN
TURKMENBASHY HARBOR AND GARABOGAZKOL GULF ON THE CASPIAN
SEA. HOWEVER, A CONTACT AT THE ASHGABAT SANITARY AND
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STATION (SES) TOLD USAID HEALTH
SPECIALIST THAT THE AI TESTS WERE NEGATIVE. SEPARATELY,
OPPOSITION WEBSITES REPORTS OF HUMAN AND FOWL DEATHS IN
DASHOGUZ WELAYAT (PROVINCE) RELATED TO AI HAVE NOT BEEN
SUBSTANTIATED. ACCORDING TO ONE RESIDENT OF DASHOGUZ,
MANY CHICKENS FROZE TO DEATH THIS WINTER BECAUSE OF
EXTREME TEMPERATURES; THE RETURN TO MODERATE TEMPERATURES
HAS ENDED THE BIRD DEATHS.

COMMENT
--------------


5. (SBU) THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE MOHMI OPENLY, ALBEIT
NOT PUBLICLY, ADMITTED A LACK OF AI PREPAREDNESS AND THE
NEED TO ENHANCE THE GOTX'S CAPACITY TO COMBAT A POTENTIAL
AI PANDEMIC. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE THE FIRST STEP,
ALTHOUGH THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AMERICAS DESK
CHIEF SERDAR BASHIMOV TOLD DCM ON MARCH 2 THAT IT WOULD
BE A MISTAKE TO LINK AI PREPAREDNESS ASSISTANCE TO THE
WILLINGNESS OF THE GOTX TO OPENLY REPORT EVIDENCE OF AI.
END COMMENT.

JACOBSON