AVIAN INFLUENZA EXPLODES ACROSS SEVEN ROMANIAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUCHAREST 000834

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 EXPLODES ACROSS SEVEN ROMANIAN
COUNTIES

REF: A) BUCHAREST 811; B) BUCHAREST 523; C) BUCHAREST 310;

D) BUCHAREST 79; E) 05 BUCHAREST 2302; F) 05 BUCHAREST 2239;
G) 05 BUCHAREST 2205, H) 05 BUCHAREST 2185; I) 05 BUCHAREST
2177, J) 05 BUCHAREST 2152

BUCHAREST 00000834 001.2 OF 002


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

1. (SBU) Romania's Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed
new cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza (AI) in three counties and
is testing suspected outbreaks in four more. The cases all
are clustered in central Romania, where no previous cases
had occurred. Six suspected cases of human AI have tested
negative in rapid testing, though they remain open until
more thorough test results are in. Contaminated poultry
meat is being removed from retail stores from Timisoara on
the western border to Constanta on the Black Sea coast.
The press reports that poultry sales have dropped by 80
percent. Criminal indictments are being drawn up for the
administrators of the two commercial farms that appear to be
the source of these new outbreaks. Corruption among
veterinary inspectors and local officials may have also
contributed to the crisis. Romanian Minister of Agriculture
Flutur has asked for a budget increase to cope with this
most recent crisis. End Summary.

Avian Flu Explodes Across Seven Counties
--------------

2. (U) Since the first new case of H5N1 was discovered in
Brasov County in Transylvania on Friday, May 12, it appears
as if AI has exploded across the country. The National
Institute for Animal Diagnosis and Health has confirmed H5N1
in three counties and is testing suspected cases in these
and four more counties. All seven counties are contiguous,
in central Romania. None had seen cases of AI before.
There are now eight confirmed H5N1 cases in Brasov County,
including the two commercial farms, Drakom Silva and Pati
Prod; and backyard farms in Hurez, Fagaras, Feldioara de
Ucea, Soars, Dumbravita and Vistea de Jos. One backyard
farm outbreak has been confirmed in Sita Buzaului in Covasna
County. Another backyard case has been confirmed in
Bolotest in Vrancea County.


3. (U) In addition, tests are being run on 29 suspected
cases in six counties: 19 localities in Brasov County; one
in Buzau County; three in Bacau County; one in Vrancea
County; one in Sibiu County; and four in Valcea County. All
suspected cases are traced to distributors who sold live
poultry to individual backyard farmers.

Poultry Recalled Across the Country
--------------

4. (U) Processed poultry meat from the Codlea (Brasov)
slaughterhouse is being recalled from retailers in Bucharest
and nine other counties: Brasov, Timisoara, Sibiu, Vrancea,
Valcea, Constanta, Covasna, Buzau, and Prahova. While
authorities initially projected 11 tons of potentially
contaminated meat, they have dramatically increased the
number to 342 tons, corresponding with production in the
Codlea industrial zone from May 1-13, 2006. Of this,
authorities claim that they have so far been able to recall
325 tons of poultry from supermarkets and warehouses,
representing 95 percent of the total.


5. (U) The Ministries of Agriculture and Health continue
to reassure the public that the poultry recall is an added
precautionary measure since the virus, if present, would be
killed if the meat is cooked to at least 70 degrees Celsius.
Local media continue to run public service announcements on
the proper ways to handle and cook poultry products.

Criminally Irresponsible
--------------

6. (U) Minister Flutur labeled the involvement of some
officials in this sudden outbreak of AI as "criminally
irresponsible." He dismissed the President and Vice
President of the national Veterinary Health Authority the
night of May 16. The Director of the Brasov Health
Veterinary Directorate resigned the same day, citing medical
reasons.


7. (U) Prosecutors have interviewed the administrators of
the two commercial farms that appear to be "ground zero" for
the widespread outbreak. Prime Minister Tariceanu has also
called for administrative and criminal investigations and
prosecutions for all those involved in violating the law and

BUCHAREST 00000834 002.2 OF 002


contaminating the food supply.


8. (U) Authorities have installed quarantines around all
confirmed and suspected locations. The public has been
advised to avoid quarantined areas and traffic is being
routed around hotspots. Residents in some areas have
objected to strict "code red" quarantine measures,
complaining that they are not allowed to even leave the area
to buy food.


9. (U) Farm workers were under strict quarantine on the
two commercial farms, although the press reported that six
employees escaped from the Drakom farm. Authorities have
asked them to voluntarily return so as not to risk their
health or that of the public.


10. (U) Minister Flutur has requested that "crisis
committees" be organized in each affected county to include
the veterinary authorities as well as officials in the
agriculture and interior ministries. These committees are
charged with 24 hour protection of the public and constant
communication with national authorities on the status of the
situation. Flutur also requested an emergency budget
supplement to deal with the crisis.

SUSPECTED HUMAN CASES PROVE NEGATIVE
--------------

11. (U) Six suspected cases of human AI were brought to
Bucharest's infectious disease hospital. The cases included
a mother and two siblings and another infant from Codlea, a
woman who had recently visited her parents in the town, and
a street person from Bucharest. All six cases tested
negative under rapid tests, but are still considered open
until more thorough tests are conducted.

Cmment
--------------

12. (SBU) The rapid explosion o reports of H5N1 over a
seven county area is disurbing, more so because each report
appears to oiginate from the same source. Accompanying
reports of malfeasance, fraud and irresponsibility on the
part of animal health officials and commercial poultry farms
have added to the jitters of Romanian consumers. Romanian
authorities will have an up-hill task to restore confidence
in their ability to contain AI, both among the Romanian
public and officials in Brussels following Romania's
progress towards EU accession.
Taubman