AVIAN CASES OF H5N1 CONFIRMED IN AZERBAIJAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000208

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/PGI, OES
DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID
DEPT PLEASE PASS USDA
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR AND ATTACHE
GENEVA FOR HEALTH ATTACHE
ROME FOR FAO REP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2016
TAGS: EAGR EAID CASC KFLU AJ
SUBJECT: AVIAN CASES OF H5N1 CONFIRMED IN AZERBAIJAN

REF: A. A) BAKU 187 AND PREVIOUS


B. B) BAKU 189

C. C) 05 BAKU 1892

Classified By: DCM JASON P. HYLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)

TAGS: EAGR EAID CASC KFLU AJ

AVIAN CASES OF H5N1 CONFIRMED IN AZERBAIJAN


1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOAJ announced February 10 that samples
taken from birds in Azerbaijan had tested positive for H5N1
avian influenza. The tests were conducted at an
international reference laboratory at Weybridge, UK.
Ministers of Health and Agriculture did the right thing by
quickly announcing the news to the public. Post is concerned
that the GOAJ is poorly organized to deal with this news,
thus hampering a rapid response. With President Ilham Aliyev
in Rambouillet, France, for crucial talks on
Nagorno-Karabakh, this top-down government may also be
waiting for his February 12 return to set a clear course.
Post is reaching out to the UN and other donors to craft a
coherent message to the GOAJ and marshal needed international
assistance. Post released a warden message on the H5N1
announcement to the American community and a separate message
to the Embassy community on February 10. We have also
reviewed our tripwires (ref C) and determined that our
current response is appropriate. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) On February 10, the Ministries of Health and
Agriculture issued a joint statement confirming that samples
taken from large bird die-offs and sent to an international
laboratory in the UK had tested positive for H5N1. This
announcement came after some confusion on the part of the
Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) during the evening of February

9. Amidst rumors that the WHO and FAO had already received
word from the lab of positive findings, the MoA maintained
that it would not make a public announcement on avian
influenza until it received official notification from the
FAO or WHO. The Ambassador spoke by telephone to Agriculture
Minister Abasov February 9 and urged the GOAJ to make an
announcement quickly after following up with the UK lab
directly. (NOTE: Econoff spoke directly with the Weybridge
laboratory earlier on February 9 and learned that six of
seven samples tested at that time were positive for H5. Of
those, at least two had been tested further and found
positive for H5N1. The laboratory also indicated that it had
sent two emails to Azerbaijan State Vet Service Chief Dr.
Ismayil Hasanov on February 8 with the positive findings. It
is not clear whether Hasanov received these emails or
communicated the findings to the Minister of Agriculture.
Email attachments sent to Econoff by the Weybridge lab have
been forwarded to EUR/CACEN. END NOTE.)


3. (SBU) Following the GOAJ announcement February 10, a World
Health Organization (WHO) assessment team briefed the
international community on its two-week examination of
Azerbaijan's human health and veterinary system. The team's
report was decidedly negative vis-a-vis the GOAJ's lab and
operational capabilities and training. However, the team
provided a number of recommendations, most medium to long
term, in various areas (septel). During the brief, UNICEF
country director Hanaa Singer, who has been coordinating the
UN system response to AI in Azerbaijan, detailed a meeting
with Deputy Prime Minister Abbas Abbasov earlier February 10.
She described the meeting as "brutal" and said that Abassov
railed against the Health Ministry and international
community, which he believed was conspiring against
Azerbaijan. In her view, he had all but refused to
acknowledge the presence of avian influenza in the country
and only reluctantly allowed an FAO expert to proceed with
plans to gather new samples for testing.


4. (C) Singer's report adds to Post's growing concern that,
while the Ministers of Agriculture and Health are clearly
ready to engage, elements within the GOAJ are mismanaging the
response to this incipient crisis. The State Veterinary
Service Chief has long been an obstacle, particularly in
getting samples properly tested at a reference laboratory.

BAKU 00000208 002 OF 002


However, DPM Abbasov's intransigence has created a
significant barrier to the international community's ability
to providing Azerbaijan with needed aid and technical
assistance. Post is planning to raise quietly with other
senior GOAJ officials the need to designate another official,
such as DPM Abid Sharifov, more able to manage the GOAJ AI
response effectively. Ambassador will also urge newly
appointed Minister of Emergency Situations Kemalladin
Heydarov to play a role in crafting the GOAJ response. With
President Ilham Aliyev in Rambouillet, France, for crucial
Nagorno-Karabakh talks, this top-down government may also be
waiting for his February 12 return to get its marching orders.


5. (SBU) Post is renewing our outreach to the international
community, particularly the UN, in order to urge they take a
lead role. Ambassador called UNDP Resident Coordinator Marco
Borsotti February 10 to elicit his personal involvement with
the GOAJ. Post has also suggested that FAO, which covers
Azerbaijan from Ankara, send additional experts to augment
the one FAO expert already here and provide capability for
field-level assistance to the GOAJ.


6. (SBU) Following the GOAJ's announcement concerning
positive AI results, Post sent out a cleared warden message
and immediately distributed it to the American community, and
sent a separate message to the Embassy community. We already
held an AI town hall meeting on February 2 (ref B),but plan
to hold a second town hall meeting for the community next
week to answer any additional questions. In addition, Post
has reviewed the tripwires set forth in reftel B and
determined that we are meeting those requirements. Post has
also determined that the other tripwires in reftel B are
still appropriate.
HARNISH