Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NICOSIA195
2006-02-10 14:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
CYPRUS AI UPDATE: ISOLATED OUTRBEAK UNDER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHNC #0195 0411443 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 101443Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5530 INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS IMMEDIATE 3490 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA IMMEDIATE 4532 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 1128 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA IMMEDIATE 0411 RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN IMMEDIATE 0383 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 0424 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 4105 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS IMMEDIATE 2035 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 0156
UNCLAS NICOSIA 000195
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMMAN FOR RMO
CAIRO FOR RMO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU EAGR EAID CASC KSCA TBIO KSTH WHO
AMED, PREL, CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS AI UPDATE: ISOLATED OUTRBEAK UNDER
CONTROL; NO NEW REPORTS OF SUSPECTED CASES
REFS: (A) NICOSIA 150 (B) NICOSIA 125 (C) NICOSIA 116 (D)
76 (E) NICOSIA 74 (F) NICOSIA 50 (G) NICOSIA 34 (H) 05
NICOSIA 1914 (I) 05 NICOSIA 1866 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS NICOSIA 000195
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMMAN FOR RMO
CAIRO FOR RMO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU EAGR EAID CASC KSCA TBIO KSTH WHO
AMED, PREL, CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS AI UPDATE: ISOLATED OUTRBEAK UNDER
CONTROL; NO NEW REPORTS OF SUSPECTED CASES
REFS: (A) NICOSIA 150 (B) NICOSIA 125 (C) NICOSIA 116 (D)
76 (E) NICOSIA 74 (F) NICOSIA 50 (G) NICOSIA 34 (H) 05
NICOSIA 1914 (I) 05 NICOSIA 1866 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) There have been no new reports of suspected
cases of avian influenza (AI) in either poultry or humans
since two chickens tested positive for H5N1 on January 29
(refs a-c). The draft trip report (faxed to EUR/SE) of
the EU Veterinary experts who visited Cyprus January 29-
February 1 (ref a) concludes that: "the outbreak is of an
isolated nature and is contained by effective measures
implemented by the veterinary services of the northern
part of Cyprus." The EU experts will return February 13-
16. According to the GoC veterinary service, both the
Kestrel found dead at the Embassy (ref b) and the six
chickens found in a plastic bag in the buffer zone (ref
a) were AI free.
2. (SBU) The GoC continues to question the two positive
tests in the north, suggesting that laboratory error is
the only way to explain the lack of subsequent cases
(ref. a). While WHO and EU veterinary experts have told
us that laboratory contamination in Turkey is a real
possibility, there is no way to confirm or deny these
charges. In any case, both communities (as well as the
UK Sovereign Base Area of Dhekalia) are acting as if the
cases were real and continue to enforce the 10km
surveillance zone.
3. (SBU) The Minister of Health told the Ambassador
February 10 that the GoC now has enough antiviral drugs
(Tamiflu and Relenza) to treat 600 people. The MoH has
ordered extra supplies and expects this number to
increase to 10,000 by September and 40,000 by early next
year. The MoH also plans to open a lab capable of AI PCR
testing in humans in the next few months. Currently, the
MoH has the capability only to administer an AI rapid
test in humans, which then must be sent to a laboratory
in Athens for confirmation. The GoC veterinary service
uses the egg inculcation test.
4. (SBU) On February 8, the Consular Section and the
Regional Medical Officer hosted a well-attended and well-
received AI Town Hall meeting for the American community
wardens. On February 9, the Public Affairs Section held
a bicommunal AI DVC with a leading WHO expert. This was
only the second time that Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot health experts had agreed to be in the same room.
We will continue our outreach to the American community
as well as our efforts to foster greater cooperation
across the UN-patrolled Green Line.
SCHLICHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMMAN FOR RMO
CAIRO FOR RMO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU EAGR EAID CASC KSCA TBIO KSTH WHO
AMED, PREL, CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS AI UPDATE: ISOLATED OUTRBEAK UNDER
CONTROL; NO NEW REPORTS OF SUSPECTED CASES
REFS: (A) NICOSIA 150 (B) NICOSIA 125 (C) NICOSIA 116 (D)
76 (E) NICOSIA 74 (F) NICOSIA 50 (G) NICOSIA 34 (H) 05
NICOSIA 1914 (I) 05 NICOSIA 1866 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) There have been no new reports of suspected
cases of avian influenza (AI) in either poultry or humans
since two chickens tested positive for H5N1 on January 29
(refs a-c). The draft trip report (faxed to EUR/SE) of
the EU Veterinary experts who visited Cyprus January 29-
February 1 (ref a) concludes that: "the outbreak is of an
isolated nature and is contained by effective measures
implemented by the veterinary services of the northern
part of Cyprus." The EU experts will return February 13-
16. According to the GoC veterinary service, both the
Kestrel found dead at the Embassy (ref b) and the six
chickens found in a plastic bag in the buffer zone (ref
a) were AI free.
2. (SBU) The GoC continues to question the two positive
tests in the north, suggesting that laboratory error is
the only way to explain the lack of subsequent cases
(ref. a). While WHO and EU veterinary experts have told
us that laboratory contamination in Turkey is a real
possibility, there is no way to confirm or deny these
charges. In any case, both communities (as well as the
UK Sovereign Base Area of Dhekalia) are acting as if the
cases were real and continue to enforce the 10km
surveillance zone.
3. (SBU) The Minister of Health told the Ambassador
February 10 that the GoC now has enough antiviral drugs
(Tamiflu and Relenza) to treat 600 people. The MoH has
ordered extra supplies and expects this number to
increase to 10,000 by September and 40,000 by early next
year. The MoH also plans to open a lab capable of AI PCR
testing in humans in the next few months. Currently, the
MoH has the capability only to administer an AI rapid
test in humans, which then must be sent to a laboratory
in Athens for confirmation. The GoC veterinary service
uses the egg inculcation test.
4. (SBU) On February 8, the Consular Section and the
Regional Medical Officer hosted a well-attended and well-
received AI Town Hall meeting for the American community
wardens. On February 9, the Public Affairs Section held
a bicommunal AI DVC with a leading WHO expert. This was
only the second time that Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot health experts had agreed to be in the same room.
We will continue our outreach to the American community
as well as our efforts to foster greater cooperation
across the UN-patrolled Green Line.
SCHLICHER