AZERBAIJAN: UPDATE ON AVIAN INFLUENZA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 001779

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, EUR/PGI
ROME PASS TO US/FAO FOR AMBASSADOR VASQUEZ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON PGOV PREL KFLU TBIO CASC AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: UPDATE ON AVIAN INFLUENZA



1. (SBU) Summary: While initial GOAJ testing of dead birds
from the southern region of Jalalibad did not indicate avian
influenza (AI),a visiting USAID technical advisor and FAO
representative who visited the region are concerned that the
GOAJ test results were inconsistent with the high mortality
rate of the birds. After the Ambassador solicited President
Aliyev's commitment to order the samples sent to England for
international testing December 5 State Veterinary Service
Chairman Hasanov gave permission to send the samples to the
United Kingdom's Weybridge laboratory, which the Embassy is
coordinating with the FAO. While the GOAJ has made some
progress raising awareness of AI, bureaucratic resistance in
the Veterinary Services to early international testing is
worrisome. There are additional reports of bird deaths in
Azerbaijan. We continue to urge the GOAJ to establish and
early pattern of regular international testing; we also are
working with other donors to coordinate an international
response, and are holding regular meetings in-house and with
the broader Amcit community to discuss AI preparedness. We
urge Washington to press the UN system, especially FAO, to
engage regularly at a senior level with the GOAJ in
anticipation of further problems. End Summary.

Experts Urge Sending Samples to Weybridge
--------------


2. (U) Based on concerns from an initial interview with a
farmer from the southern region of Jalalibad, visiting USAID
technical advisor Elizabeth Krushinskie and Azerbaijan Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative Gholam
Kiani traveled to Tezekend for a site visit December 2.
Three weeks ago the media reported bird die-offs in Tezekend
village in the southern region of Jalalibad. In a November 10
meeting with econoff, the State Veterinary Service (SVS) and
Ministry of Health described "limited bird deaths" and
reported that the GOAJ had conducted testing of dead birds.
Krushinskie said anecdotes from the farmers about the high
mortality rate for chickens and turkeys could indicate that
the GOAJ's explanations from previous testing could have been
mistaken. (Note: The State Veterinary Service had collected
tissue samples from dead birds three weeks ago for testing.
After testing at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Baku,
they reported staphylococcus, colibacillosis and
pasteurellosis as the causative agents; the tests were
negative for avian influenza. No samples were taken from
live birds, geese, or ducks, nor were samples sent abroad
since the HPAI PCR tests were negative.)


3. (U) Krushinskie and Kiani gathered two sets of diagnostic
samples from surviving ducks and geese in the village to test
for avian influenza. The experts recommended that one set of
samples be tested at the Central Veterinary Laboratory while
the second be sent to the international reference laboratory
in Weybridge, England to be simultaneously tested. (Note:
While ducks and geese are asymptomatic, they are carriers of
the disease and would show a buildup of anti-bodies if they
had been exposed.)


4. (SBU) Both Krushinskie and Econoff separately contacted
State Veterinary Service (SVS) Chairman Ismail Hasanov
December 4, urging him to send the second set of samples to
Weybridge and conveying the FAO's offer to pay for the
shipment and testing. While conceding to test the samples in
Baku, Hasanov refused to send samples to England unless the
Baku tests were positive, urging &cooperation and trust8
between the US and GOAJ. Facing delays from the Chairman of
Azerbaijan's Avian Influenza Commission Deputy Prime Minister
Yagub Eyubbov, the Ambassador discussed the issue directly
with President Aliyev December 5. She requested that he
instruct the SVS to send the samples to Weybridge no later
than December 6 (for the testing to be valid) to comply with
inernational norms and help prepare and protect Azeraijan
from a possible avian influenza outbreak. President Aliyev
said he would issue the instrucion. On December 6, Hasanov
told Econoff he gave the veterinary laboratory chief
permission to send the samples to Weybridge. The Embassy is
coordinating the process with the FAO.

Media Reports Bird Die-offs ) GOAJ Says Tests Negative
-------------- --------------


5. (U) A week after Jalalibad appeared in the media, there
were reports of dead birds in the central city of Barda, and

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on December 4 the media reported dead birds around
Azerbaijan's second largest city Ganja. Following the
Jalalibad and Barda reports, Hasanov said the SVS had taken
samples and tested for avian influenza. The test results
were negative for avian influenza, he said. According to
reports from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA),
Azerbaijan has the technological capability and a small
trained staff to test for the H5N1 virus in Baku, as well as
field tests to test for avian influenza (although not strain
specific) in the regions. Independent contacts working on
avian influenza prevention and preparation reported limited
deaths of birds around Barda and Jalalibad (around 100 dead
birds in each city). UNICEF country representative Hanaa
Singer said that testing is underway at the Central
Veterinary Laboratory on the Barda samples for Newcastle
disease and bacterial disease (like those diagnosed in
Jalalibad). The Central Veterinary Laboratory Chief reported
that only six birds died in Ganja and the test results have
come back negative for avian influenza. The Central
Laboratory is conducting further tests to determine the cause
of the bird deaths. Pragma, an independent NGO working on
the animal side of avian influenza, also confirmed a small
number of dead birds and opined that it was not avian
influenza.

GOAJ Efforts ) A Mixed Bag
--------------


6. (U) The GOAJ has taken some steps to prevent avian
influenza. As SVS Chairman Hasanov told visiting FAS
Counselor November 30, &I am sure migrating birds will bring
avian influenza to Azerbaijan. We are ready and regional
groups are checking up on how our regulations are being
implemented.8 Working closely with international donors,
the GOAJ has improved training and equipment for regional
hospitals and veterinary laboratories, and designated
facilities and staff in Baku. Some NGOs and DTRA have said
there has been increased cooperation and significant
improvement of the GOAJ's capabilities to fight avian
influenza. Peace Corps, medical officer personally visited
the Baku hospitals designated to receive humans suspected of
having avian influenza and some regional hospitals and
concluded that proper equipment and trained staff were
present and prepared.


7. (U) The SVS, with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry
of Ecology, has led monthly routine monitoring efforts
throughout Azerbaijan, testing migratory birds in the wild
and domestic stocks in private farms and poultry plants. The
GOAJ reports that all surveillance and monitoring tests were
negative for avian influenza. Cooperating with
internationally led efforts, the GOAJ has helped increased
awareness and information about avian influenza. The media
reported that after the bird deaths in Jalalibad, the dead
birds were disposed of properly -- burned and buried. In
late November, the GOAJ allowed the test results from three
human cases in Azerbaijan in the winter/spring of 2006 to be
published in medical journals, saying in the media the
purpose was to increase awareness and information and help
the international community better understand the disease.
One NGO working on the issue told Econoff November 25 that
Public Service Announcements (PSAs) approved by the GOAJ
would appear again this winter, likely the first or second
week of December, but UNICEF's Singer said she thought
government-sponsored PSAs unlikely. Singer invited the
international community to meet December 8 to discuss
increasing avian influenza information to the public (through
PSAs and informational campaigns) as well as what current and
future efforts on avian influenza the international community
in Baku should undertake.


8. (U) USAID's technical advisor and one NGO said little
progress has actually been made in Azerbaijan since the last
outbreak. Krushinskie said the SVS did not provide personal
protective equipment (PPE) from Baku, saying the regional
laboratory would do so. However, Krushinskie said, the
regional labortory did not have even the most basic
equipment, the chief regional veterinary did not know that
dcks and geese could be carriers of the virus, and he
farmers in the village were ill-informed. Inernational
Relief and Development country representative Kalyayev told
Econoff and visiting FAS Counselor November 30 that he and
his staff have seen little progress in regional hospitals and

BAKU 00001779 003 OF 003


that people living in the villages still receive little
information.


9. (U) In addition to the Ambassador's meetings with
President Aliyev and Deputy Prime Minister Eyyubov, Econoff
met with Hasanov November 10 to urge him to send independent
samples from Jalalibad to the international reference
laboratory in England despite the samples having testing
negative for avian influenza, stressing the importance of
following international norms and increasing the GOAJ's
credibility with the Azerbaijani public. Econoff offered to
help with shipping and testing costs if that was a concern.
Econoff told Hasanov the GOAJ has made significant
improvements, but real test would be its reaction in the case
of an outbreak.

Embassy's Response
--------------


10. (U) The Embassy has convened an interagency working
group on avian influenza that met September 15, October 12,
and most recently December 6 to discuss the current situation
in Azerbaijan, GOAJ cooperation, international community
coordination, Embassy preparedness, and outreach to the
Embassy and American community about avian influenza. The
group is chaired by the DCM and includes representatives from
the Political and Economic Section, DTRA, Consular, CLO, Med,
RSO, USAID, and Peace Corps. The Ambassador met separately
with the American and Embassy communities during town hall
meetings December 1 to describe the current situation,
explain and increase awareness of avian influenza, and share
information about how to prepare in case of possible
outbreaks. The Consular Section has been in regular contact
with the American community sharing information on avian
influenza, preventive measures people can take, and
precautionary measures in case of an outbreak.

Comment
--------------


11. (SBU) Comment: With human and bird deaths in early 2006,
Azerbaijan is high-risk for another outbreak this fall.
Establishing a pattern where the GOAJ sends samples abroad
for independent confirmation early is key to containing the
spread of avian influenza should it appear in Azerbaijan
again. The GOAJ has made some progress since the last
outbreak in February, but much remains to be done, especially
with regard to increased information and awareness for the
public and GOAJ staff. Early resistance in the Veterinary
Services to international testing indicates that some
officials continue to resist correctly identifying and
independently confirming the cases quickly, complicating and
slowing down a coordinated response and raising the risk of
human exposure to sick birds. Based on the last outbreak and
Hasanov,s comments to Econoff, January and February might be
the most high-risk months for Azerbaijan. We believe the time
to work more closely with the GOAJ is now, and while we are
encouraged by the GOAJ's decision to send the samples
gathered this weekend to England, we will maintain continued
high-level engagement on the issue. We ask that Washington
urge the FAO to engage regularly with the GOAJ at a senior
level now with respect to improving biosecurity and the need
for immediate action on bird outbreaks. End Comment.
DERSE