Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE608
2006-04-05 11:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
TAJIKISTAN: LAB TESTS CONFIRM STILL NO AVIAN FLU
how-toVZCZCXRO2866 PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHDBU #0608 0951146 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 051146Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7114 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1500 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1524 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1509 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1480 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1426 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1464 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1437 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1349 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1280 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1064 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1500 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1545 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0857 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 8290
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000608
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KFLU ECON EAGR EAID TBIO SENV KSCA
KSTH, SOCI, WHO, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: LAB TESTS CONFIRM STILL NO AVIAN FLU
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000608
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KFLU ECON EAGR EAID TBIO SENV KSCA
KSTH, SOCI, WHO, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: LAB TESTS CONFIRM STILL NO AVIAN FLU
1. Although the media have reported an increased number of bird
deaths in Tajikistan, lab tests confirm the dead birds were not
afflicted by avian influenza. On April 4, the State
Veterinarian Service revealed that the most recent tests of
pigeons and other dead birds in Dushanbe were negative for avian
influenza. The birds were collected from the grounds of the
Tajik Transport Institute in Dushanbe. Although officials could
not explain the exact cause of death, they suggested the birds
could have died from radiation due to the large number of
satellite dishes on rooftops.
2. In mid-March, a group of Tajik officials headed by Chief of
the State Veterinary Services, Mulujon Amirbekov visited the
Tigrovaya Balka nature preserve and the nearby towns of
Kumsanghir and Jilikul in southern Tajikistan to collect 13
blood samples from poultry in ten households. They also took
samples from poultry at the Russian Military's 201 division
site. Veterinary Department officials explain these poultry
deaths are due to Newcastle disease. Birds in the same region,
vaccinated against Newcastle disease did not die. The region
borders Afghanistan where incidents of avian influenza have been
reported and the media speculated poultry in the region have
been dying because of avian influenza. At the opposite end of
the country, officials have collected 600 samples from birds in
the northern Sughd region and are awaiting test results.
3. COMMENT: According to worrisome media reports, there has
been a marked increase in bird deaths, and ill-informed
speculations such as "death by satellite-dish radiation" are not
satisfactory or adequate. Given that Tajikistan's neighbors,
Afghanistan and China, have reported incidents of avian
influenza, the possibility remains high that avian influenza
could reach - or has reached - Tajikistan. The Food and
Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization
continue to work with the Tajik government to monitor potential
avian influenza. The media actively reports on potential cases,
and the government appears proactive in collecting samples for
testing, but continued observation from international
organizations is needed to ensure that the government does not
attempt to cover up an outbreak as they may have done with last
summer's outbreak of "acute waterborne diarrhea." END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KFLU ECON EAGR EAID TBIO SENV KSCA
KSTH, SOCI, WHO, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: LAB TESTS CONFIRM STILL NO AVIAN FLU
1. Although the media have reported an increased number of bird
deaths in Tajikistan, lab tests confirm the dead birds were not
afflicted by avian influenza. On April 4, the State
Veterinarian Service revealed that the most recent tests of
pigeons and other dead birds in Dushanbe were negative for avian
influenza. The birds were collected from the grounds of the
Tajik Transport Institute in Dushanbe. Although officials could
not explain the exact cause of death, they suggested the birds
could have died from radiation due to the large number of
satellite dishes on rooftops.
2. In mid-March, a group of Tajik officials headed by Chief of
the State Veterinary Services, Mulujon Amirbekov visited the
Tigrovaya Balka nature preserve and the nearby towns of
Kumsanghir and Jilikul in southern Tajikistan to collect 13
blood samples from poultry in ten households. They also took
samples from poultry at the Russian Military's 201 division
site. Veterinary Department officials explain these poultry
deaths are due to Newcastle disease. Birds in the same region,
vaccinated against Newcastle disease did not die. The region
borders Afghanistan where incidents of avian influenza have been
reported and the media speculated poultry in the region have
been dying because of avian influenza. At the opposite end of
the country, officials have collected 600 samples from birds in
the northern Sughd region and are awaiting test results.
3. COMMENT: According to worrisome media reports, there has
been a marked increase in bird deaths, and ill-informed
speculations such as "death by satellite-dish radiation" are not
satisfactory or adequate. Given that Tajikistan's neighbors,
Afghanistan and China, have reported incidents of avian
influenza, the possibility remains high that avian influenza
could reach - or has reached - Tajikistan. The Food and
Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization
continue to work with the Tajik government to monitor potential
avian influenza. The media actively reports on potential cases,
and the government appears proactive in collecting samples for
testing, but continued observation from international
organizations is needed to ensure that the government does not
attempt to cover up an outbreak as they may have done with last
summer's outbreak of "acute waterborne diarrhea." END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND