CAIRO AIWG REVIEWS MISSION AND GOE PREPAREDNESS

UNCLAS CAIRO 000270

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO ECON PREL SOCI EG WHO KSTH
SUBJECT: CAIRO AIWG REVIEWS MISSION AND GOE PREPAREDNESS

REF: A. CAIRO 08497


B. CAIRO 08533

C. CAIRO 08734

D. CAIRO 08878

E. CAIRO 09208

F. CAIRO 09351

Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly.


1. (U) Summary: The Cairo Avian Influenza Working Group
(AIWG) met January 12, 2006, to assess mission preparedness,
review its tripwires, and evaluate recent interactions with
the Government of Egypt (GOE) on avian influenza (AI)
preparedness and other related issues. End summary.


2. (SBU) NAMRU-3 confirms that no H5N1 has been detected in
Egypt, although recent problems with importation of regional
flu samples (see reftel F) have impaired NAMRU-3's
surveillance and detection activities. In addition, FAS
reports that, although a blocked feather meal shipment has
been let in, the blanket poultry ban remains in place,
despite the fact that the U.S. has no high-path AI and a
strong program of surveillance (see reftel C). The
Ambassador will meet with the new Minister of Health January
23 to address these issues.


3. (U) The U.S. continues to provide assistance to Egypt for
AI detection and response. USAID may provide $1.5 million in
assistance to the GOE for long-term development. USAID has
provided training through APHIS in the U.S. for foreign
veterinary workers, including four people from the Middle
East (two of them from Egypt).


4. (SBU) However, there continue to be questions concerning
the GOE's ability to respond effectively to an AI outbreak.
To date, no GOE preparedness plan has been published,
although interministerial meetings on AI have taken place,
and a draft national preparedness plan was circulated. Local
AI reporting has focused on events in other regions.
However, the GOE has not announced any planning in the event
of a possible AI outbreak in Egypt. Al-Ahram newspaper
reports that the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) now
requires intensive inspection measures at all airports and
ports of entry for visitors and cargo from Turkey, with
immediate notification of the MOHP and quarantine of
suspected cases.


5. (SBU) Post conducted a review of tripwires vis--vis the
Turkey outbreak, and will amplify the plan by creating two
sets of tripwires to distinguish between avian flu and
human-to-human contagion. Although post has communicated a
great deal of information on AI to the Mission community, a
warden message will be issued to stress the need for AmCit
preparedness in the event of an AI outbreak in Egypt. PA and
CONS report that there have been no press/AmCit inquiries
regarding AI.

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