AVIAN FLU: TURKMENISTAN SEEMINGLY ACTIVE ON AI

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000682 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR SCA/CEN ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR JAMES HIGGISTON TASHKENT FOR ESTH (PUTNAM) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD PGOV KFLU TX SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: TURKMENISTAN SEEMINGLY ACTIVE ON AI PREVENTION, BUT MAKES NO FINANCIAL COMMITMENT REFTEL: ASHGABAT 620 AND PREVIOUS Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet Distribution. SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) DEPUTY HEALTH MINISTER ANNAMURAD ORAZOV, DEPUTY HEAD OF STATE VETERINARY SERVICE HUDAIBERDY MUHAMMEDOV AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF DESERTS UNDER THE MINISTRY OF NATURE PROTECTION REPRESENTED THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKMENISTAN AT THE JUNE 12-13 INTERNATIONAL AVIAN INFLUENZA CONFERENCE IN ALMATY, JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, CENTRAL ASIAN REGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION, CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, UNITED NATIONS, WORLD BANK AND EUROPEAN UNION. ORAZOV DESCRIBED THE GOVERNMENT'S PREVENTIVE MEASURES THUS FAR AND REQUESTED INTERNATIONAL SPONSORS' ASSISTANCE IN STRENGTHENING TURKMENISTAN'S EFFORTS TO COMBAT AVIAN INFLUENZA. END SUMMARY. STATUS OF AVIAN INFLUENZA PREVENTION IN TURKMENISTAN -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) DEPUTY HEALTH MINISTER ANNAMURAD ORAZOV REPORTED THAT TURKMENISTAN HAS AN AVIAN INFLUENZA INTRA-AGENCY COORDINATION PLAN AND AN EMERGENCY ANTI-EPIDEMIC COMMISSION CHAIRED BY MINISTER OF HEALTH GURBANGULY BERDIMUHAMMEDOV. ORAZOV'S REPORT DESCRIBED THE EFFORTS THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN TO PREVENT AVIAN INFLUENZA, INCLUDING SANITARY AND VETERINARY INSPECTIONS AT THE BORDERS, MONITORING BODY TEMPERATURES OF PASSENGERS ARRIVING AT THE ASHGABAT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THE PURCHASE OF 1,000 ADULT TAMIFLU COURSES, HUNTING RESTRICTIONS TO CONTROL MIGRATORY FOUL POPULATIONS, A POULTRY IMPORT BAN AND LOCAL POULTRY FARM MONITORING PROGRAM, HEALTH WORKER TRAINING AND A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. IN ADDITION TO THE TWO EXISTING VIROLOGICAL LABORATORIES IN ASHGABAT, ORAZOV SAID THAT THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH IS BUILDING A LABORATORY IN THE CASPIAN SEA CITY TURKMENBASHY, AND NOTED THAT THE MINISTRIES OF HEALTH, AGRICULTURE AND NATURE PROTECTION GIVE WEEKLY AVIAN INFLUENZA BRIEFS TO PRESIDENT NIYAZOV. ¶3. (U) ORAZOV REQUESTED THAT THE CONFERENCE'S INTERNATIONAL SPONSORS ASSIST TURKMENISTAN BY STRENGTHENING AVIAN INFLUENZA PREVENTIVE MEASURES THROUGH PROVIDING TRAINING FOR VIROLOGICAL LABORATORIES' STAFFS, AND SUPPLYING DIAGNOSTIC KITS, 5,000 UNITS OF PROTECTIVE GEAR, AND POWDERED TAMIFLU FOR CHILDREN. Comment -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Since the March 3 cabinet meeting when the president announced he was taking personal control of the Avian Influenza issue, the government has arranged a series of World Health Organization-sponsored training for health personnel and sent representatives to regional Avian Influenza conferences in Kabul and Almaty. Niyazov's personal interest has enhanced the government's Avian Influenza efforts, but the government has failed to make any financial commitment for the implementation of its Avian Influenza preparedness plan. End Comment. JACOBSON