Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUCHAREST811
2006-05-16 15:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bucharest
Cable title:  

AVIAN INFLUENZA - OUTBREAK IN ROMANIAN COMMERCIAL

Tags:  KFLU TBIO PREL EAID CASC WHO RO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6420
OO RUEHAST
DE RUEHBM #0811/01 1361556
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161556Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4420
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUCHAREST 000811 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE - WSILKWORTH AND CA/OCS/ACS-SSCHMIERER
NSC FOR DAMON WILSON

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO PREL EAID CASC WHO RO
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA - OUTBREAK IN ROMANIAN COMMERCIAL
POULTRY FARMS

REF: A) BUCHAREST 523 B) BUCHAREST 310; C) BUCHAREST 79; D)

05 BUCHAREST 2302; E) 05 BUCHAREST 2239; F) 05 BUCHAREST
2205, G) 05 BUCHAREST 2185; H) 05 BUCHAREST 2177, I) 05
BUCHAREST 2152

BUCHAREST 00000811 001.2 OF 002


SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUCHAREST 000811

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE - WSILKWORTH AND CA/OCS/ACS-SSCHMIERER
NSC FOR DAMON WILSON

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO PREL EAID CASC WHO RO
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA - OUTBREAK IN ROMANIAN COMMERCIAL
POULTRY FARMS

REF: A) BUCHAREST 523 B) BUCHAREST 310; C) BUCHAREST 79; D)

05 BUCHAREST 2302; E) 05 BUCHAREST 2239; F) 05 BUCHAREST
2205, G) 05 BUCHAREST 2185; H) 05 BUCHAREST 2177, I) 05
BUCHAREST 2152

BUCHAREST 00000811 001.2 OF 002


SUMMARY
--------------

1. (SBU) Romania's National Institute for Animal Diagnosis
and Health confirmed that H5N1 avian influenza (AI) has been
found in Brasov County, the first confirmed case in
Transylvania. Ministry officials confirmed that the virus
was found in three commercial farms in the county, and
warned that 11 tons of possibly tainted meat may have
reached major supermarkets in Bucharest and around the
country. There are fears that chickens may have been sold
to other farms, potentially spreading the virus. If press
reports of bribes, corruption, poor veterinary practices and
flagrant violation of food safety regulations are confirmed,
this could become a major scandal calling into question the
GOR's ability to contain the disease. Severe economic
consequences for an already beleaguered poultry industry are
likely. End Summary.

Avian Flu Enters Transylvania
--------------

2. (SBU) The National Institute for Animal Diagnosis and
Health confirmed on Friday, May 12, that H5N1 was found in
dead birds collected from two backyard farms located near
Beclean, just west of Fagaras town in Brasov County. This
news marked the first confirmed case in Transylvania or
outside of the normal path of migrating birds. According to
the latest information from the GOR veterinary authorities,
there are 5 confirmed outbreaks: one town (Fagaras) and 3
villages: Hurez (Beclean),Feldioara (Ucea) and Soars. Post
notes that there are other villages under suspicion, making
it likely more outbreaks will be confirmed in the coming
days.

Commercial Flocks Infected
--------------

3. (SBU) On May 13, the Romanian media reported the cause
of the infection was poultry purchased from a private

commercial poultry farm in Codlea, just west of Brasov city.
The press reported that this farm had been closed
immediately by government order and that all 150,000 birds
on the farm were to be destroyed. The press also reported
that a second commercial farm of 600,000 birds in Codlea was
also infected. A Codlea city councilman told a resident
American on May 16 that the town would be under quarantine
for at least three days and possibly up to three weeks.
Peace Corps medical personnel were informed by the Ministry
of Agriculture on May 14 that they should remove the two
Peace Corps volunteers located in the affected region so
that they would not be trapped inside the "code red"
quarantine area.


4. (U) On May 15, Ministry officials confirmed the
outbreak as H5N1 and revealed that the virus had been
located in three commercial chicken farms. The outbreak was
only discovered when a chicken farmer bought 500 birds and
resold them to other small-scale and domestic farmers. When
the farmers discovered dying birds, they turned to the
authorities. According to Minister of Agriculture Flutur,
the commercial farms had experienced an unusual increase in
the bird mortality rate, but had failed to notify officials.

HEALTH AUTHORITIES REACT
--------------

5. (U) Authorities believe that as much as 11 tons of
potentially infected meat may have found its way to store
shelves in Bucharest and around the country. Health
authorities are working to trace the shipments, and have
already removed 1.2 tons of meat from the shelves, including
from major "hypermarkets" in Bucharest and elsewhere.
Processing centers receiving infected birds may also have
been exposed. Press reports allege that veterinary
inspectors were bribed and that the commercial farms were
operating outside of government safety standards.


6. (U) It appears that government authorities reacted
quickly once the outbreak became known. Three affected
towns have been quarantined, traffic in and out has been
restricted, and disinfection and testing is being carried
out within a 10km, radius. Authorities have begun
destroying chickens in commercial farms and backyards.
Health officials are reportedly monitoring symptoms of

BUCHAREST 00000811 002.2 OF 002


individuals who have come in close contact with infected or
potentially infected birds and are providing human flu
vaccinations and Tamiflu to these individuals. Animal
health authorities state that they will investigate and
inspect all commercial operations to ensure that they are in
compliance with government bio-security regulations. While
domestic farmers will be compensated for their loss,
commercial farms will only receive assistance if they have
complied with sanitary regulations.

A NEW TYPE OF OUTBREAK IN ROMANIA
--------------

7. (SBU) This outbreak is substantially different than
Romania's 51 previous avian influenza outbreaks. The
previous outbreaks occurred in small domestic flocks in
rural backyards, in small villages located close to the
Danube Delta or in areas with large bodies of water such as
rivers and lakes. These earlier outbreaks were attributed
to migratory birds carrying the disease from Russia and
Central Asia as they passed through Romania's eastern
wetlands in the autumn and early winter. Health officials
had been optimistic that Romania was through the worst when
the last open case was closed in April and returning
migratory fowl showed no signs of the disease.


8. (SBU) The current outbreaks, attributed to a large
commercial farm, are located in Brasov County, in the
mountainous, central region of the country where no previous
outbreaks have been reported. The fact that commercial
farms escaped detection points to a possible serious
breakdown in sanitary regulation, particularly as such farms
are required to have regular veterinary inspections. The
source of the virus in Brasov County is still unknown and is
currently under investigation. One theory advanced is that
the disease was introduced by infected day-old chicks
brought in from outside.

Mismanagement, Corruption or Bad Luck?
--------------

9. (SBU) The media has started targeting evidence of
veterinary or environmental service mismanagement and/or
corruption, alleging that veterinary inspectors were bribed
and that the source farm was operating outside of government
safety standards. In addition, the press has already
identified and branded the manager of the original poultry
farm that reportedly delivered diseased animals "guilty" of
endangering public health, as well as the head of the local
veterinary service branch and the Minister of Agriculture.
According to sources, Minister of Agriculture Flutur has
identified the head and deputy of the inspection division
for dismissal.

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

10. (SBU) Reports of cover up, corruption of animal health
officials, and black market sales are particularly
disturbing, given the ramifications of exposing a larger
population to AI. In the past, GOR officials have acted
transparently, swiftly and effectively to control outbreaks
among backyard fowl. The new outbreaks in Brasov and
Fagaras, however, raise serious questions about Romania's
readiness to control the spread of the H5N1 disease in its
domestic poultry industry. While reports of malfeasance
remain unconfirmed, this outbreak will force the Ministries
of Health and Agriculture to take a very close look at the
reliability of their local operations. In veterinary
inspections, as with other interactions involving government
authorities at the local and regional level, corruption
remains a persistent challenge.

Taubman