SENIOR VETERINARY OFFICIALS BRIEFED DCM ON AI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000361 SIPDIS SENSITIVE 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: SENIOR VETERINARY OFFICIALS BRIEFED DCM ON AI REFTEL: A) ASHGABAT 213 B) ASHGABAT 270 C) STATE 153802 Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet Distribution SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) PER REFTEL C, POST PROVIDES A WEEKLY FOLLOW-UP ON AVIAN INFLUENZA. ON APRIL 5, THE DCM MET WITH SENIOR VETERINARY SERVICE OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS THE GOTX'S EFFORTS IN FIGHTING AI. CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER OF TURKMENISTAN AND DIRECTOR OF THE STATE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT MURAD GOCHMURADOV, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF STATE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF EPIDEMIOLOGIST OF TURKMENISTAN HUDAIBERDY MUHAMMEDOV, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL VETERINARY LABORATORY (DESIGNATED AS THE AI REFERENCE LABORATORY) AMAN TATOV AND CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER OF ASHGABAT NAZAR BASHIMOV PARTICIPATED IN THE MEETING. THE MEETING REINFORCED WHAT POST ALREADY REPORTED AND CONCLUDED WITH A REQUEST FOR TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE. END SUMMARY. CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER BRIEFS NATIONAL AI PLAN -------------- --- ___________________ ¶2. (SBU) DIRECTOR OF THE STATE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT MURAD GOCHMURADOV TOLD THE DCM ON APRIL 5 THAT THE GOTX HAS A NATIONAL AI PLAN, WHICH INCLUDED PREVENTIVE MEASURES AND ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN CASE OF AN AI OUTBREAK. GOCHMURADOV LISTED AS PREVENTIVE MEASURES: POULTRY IMPORT CONTROL, DISINFECTION AND VETERINARY CONTROL AT THE BORDERS, CONTROL AND MONITORING OF MIGRATORY FOWL, AND THE PUBLICATION OF AI BROCHURES FOR FARMERS. EMERGENCY ACTIONS INCLUDED COLLECTING SUSPECTED AI-INFECTED POULTRY AND TRANSPORTING THE PACKAGE TO THE ASHGABAT NATIONAL REFERENCE LABORATORY. GOCHMURADOV SAID THAT IN EACH WELAYAT (PROVINCE) THE STATE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT DESIGNATED TRAINED STAFF MEMBERS TO COLLECT SUSPICIOUS MATERIAL. DIRECTOR OF THE REFERENCE LABORATORY TATOV SAID THE STAFF WAS EQUIPPED WITH PROTECTIVE COSTUMES AND SPECIAL TRANSPORT CONTAINERS. CHIEF EPIDEMIOLOGIST MUHAMMEDOV SAID THAT AI-POSITIVE MATERIAL WOULD BE SENT TO THE LONDON-BASED AI REFERENCE LABORATORY FOR CONFIRMATION. VET DEPARTMENT EDUCATES STUDENTS -------------- ¶3. (U) ASHGABAT CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER NAZAROV TOLD THE DCM THAT HIS OFFICE WORKED WITH SCHOOLS ON AI THREAT AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES. STUDENTS WERE ASKED TO REPORT ON DEAD BIRDS, AND OTHER ANIMALS, FOUND IN THE CITY. TURKMEN-LANGUAGE AI ARTICLE FOR FARMERS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) MUHAMMEDOV TOLD THE DCM THAT HIS OFFICE PREPARED AN AI ARTICLE FOR THE TURKMEN-LANGUAGE MAGAZINE "TAZE OBA" (NEW VILLAGE). THE MAGAZINE ARTICLE, THE DEPUTY CHAIRMEN OF THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AND HEALTH MINISTER GURBANGULY BERDIMUHAMMEDOV'S NATIONALLY BROADCAST MARCH 3 REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT ON AI (REFTEL B),AND THE FEBRUARY 16 PRESS REPORT ON THE WHO-SPONSORED AI WORKSHOP (REF A),REPRESENTED THE GOTX'S MEDIA PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. THE DCM NOTED THAT SHE FOUND IT STRANGE THE MEDIA HAD CARRIED NO INFORMATION ON PREVENTATIVE PRACTICE, JUST THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN'S REPORT THAT AI WAS NOT A PROBLEM IN TURKMENISTAN. SHE NOTED THE REST OF THE WORLD PRESS MEDIA CARRIED CONTINUOUS DAILY UPDATES AND ADVICE ON PREVENTING THE DISEASE. MUHAMMEDOV AVOIDED DCM'S COMMENT AND SAID THE PUBLIC IN TURKMENISTAN WAS ADEQUATELY AWARE OF THE DISEASE. ASHGABAT 00000361 002 OF 002 ASSISTANCE REQUESTED -------------- ¶5. (U) MUHAMMEDOV TOLD THE DCM THAT THE USG COULD PROVIDE SPECIAL LAB EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO IDENTIFY THE AI VIRUS STRAIN. HE ALSO REQUESTED AI TRAINING FOR THE NATIONAL AI REFERENCE LAB STAFF. DCM ENCOURAGED MUHAMMEDOV TO MAKE A SPECIFIC REQUEST. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) ALTHOUGH THE MEETING DID NOT ELICIT NEW INFORMATION, IT WAS A DIRECT OPPORTUNITY TO REINFORCE THE EMBASSY'S INTEREST IN AI PREVENTIVE MEASURES AT THE WORKING LEVEL. LACK OF PRACTICAL ADVICE OR MENTION OF THE DISEASE IN THE LOCAL MEDIA IS TYPICAL, POST SERIOUSLY DOUBTS THE PUBLIC IS ADEQUATELY AWARE OF AI, MUCH LESS ITS PREVENTION. WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THE REQUEST FOR TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT. END COMMENT. JACOBSON