Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CAIRO1006
2006-02-17 13:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

EGYPT: H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI) CONFIRMED IN

Tags:  TBIO AMED CASC SENV EAGR EG KFLU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS CAIRO 001006 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR NEA, NEA/ELA
NEA/RA FOR LAWSON
OES FOR AMBASSADOR POWELL
OES/IHA FOR DALEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO AMED CASC SENV EAGR EG KFLU
SUBJECT: EGYPT: H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI) CONFIRMED IN
POULTRY; NO HUMAN CASES


Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.

UNCLAS CAIRO 001006

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR NEA, NEA/ELA
NEA/RA FOR LAWSON
OES FOR AMBASSADOR POWELL
OES/IHA FOR DALEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO AMED CASC SENV EAGR EG KFLU
SUBJECT: EGYPT: H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI) CONFIRMED IN
POULTRY; NO HUMAN CASES


Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.


1. (U) NIACT precedence due to urgency of information
regarding outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in Egyptian
poultry.


2. (SBU) Summary: H5N1 avian influenza has been detected in
samples from birds from multiple locations in three
governorates in Egypt. No human cases have been reported.
The Ambassador has spoken to the Ministers of Health and
Agriculture regarding next steps. Post's ACS section is
preparing a warden notice. End summary.


3. (SBU) H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed in multiple
samples from locations in three governorates in Egypt: Cairo,
Giza and Minya. The Cairo and Giza samples were from markets
and backyard poultry farms. The Minya sample came from a
turkey farm that suffered a large die-off of birds earlier
this week. The GOE provided samples from these locations to
the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-3) in Cairo early
on February 17. NAMRU-3 confirmed the samples as H5 shortly
after receiving them and confirmed H5N1 by 1500 February 17.
It appears that GOE labs had already determined the presence
of H5N1 and was using NAMRU, which is the WHO reference lab
in Cairo, to confirm its findings.


4. (SBU) After learning from NAMRU-3 early February 17 that
the samples were likely H5N1, the Ambassador spoke to Health
Minister Dr. Hatem el Gabaly (in New York) and to Minister of
Agriculture Amin Abaza to learn more about the GOE's planned
response and to offer support. Gabaly told the Ambassador
that he had already informed David Navarro, the AI
coordinator for the World Health Organization (WHO),of the
outbreak. Prime Minister Nazif called a meeting of key GOE
officials for 1400 February 17.


5. (SBU) ACS is preparing a warden notice for the American
community in Egypt. A town meeting for Embassy employees
will be held Monday, February 20.

RICCIARDONE