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
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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
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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