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