AVIAN INFLUENZA - MIGRATORY SWANS TEST POSITIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 000510

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE AND OES/IHA
FAS FOR ITP/MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP/WETZEL/CLERKIN, FAS/BLEGGI
FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS
USEU BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ
MILAN PLEASE PASS TO TURIN OFFICE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR TBIO KFLU ASEC AMED CASC SENV FAO WHO IT
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA - MIGRATORY SWANS TEST POSITIVE
FOR H5N1 IN ITALY

REF: A. UN ROME 000435


B. UN ROME 000464

C. 05 ROME 004188 (NOTAL)

D. 05 ROME 004113 (NOTAL)

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1. (U) SUMMARY: Tri-Mission Avian Influenza (AI) Emergency
Action Committee (AI-EAC) met on January 20 to review post
contingency planning and on February 13 to discuss
confirmation by the Ministry of Health February 11-12 that
six migratory swans in three southern regions (Puglia,
Calabria and Sicily) died from infection by the H5N1 high
pathogenic avian influenza. EAC members reviewed the current
situation in Italy, assessed the GOI's preparations and
response, and reviewed posts' AI education and emergency
preparation actions. The EAC concluded that no Italy
tripwires have been crossed. Following the January 20
meeting, the Consular Section sent out a warden message.
Following the February 13 meeting the Consular Section issued
an updated warden message and updated the Mission's web site.
On February 13, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
published a Global Agriculture Information (GAIN) report; and
Embassy Rome posted a report on Siprnet. END SUMMARY.

AVIAN INFLUENZA CONFIRMED IN SOUTHERN ITALY
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2. (U) On February 11, FAS contacted GOI Ministry of Health
officials, who confirmed that twenty-one wild migrating swans
died in the southern regions of Sicily, Calabria, and Puglia.
Five tested positive for the high pathogenic H5N1 avian
influenza virus. Later news reports upped the number of dead
swans to twenty-two dead, six testing positive for H5N1. As
of February 16, the number of dead swans has climbed to
thirty, with eight confirmed dead of AI. The areas affected
are: Comune of Pellaro (Reggio Calabria province); Comune f
Pizzo Calabro (Province of Vibo Valenzia); Comune of Manduria
(Province of Taranto); Comune of Taormina (Province of
Messina, Sicily); and the Comunes of Giarre and Mascali
(Province of Catania, Sicily). The press has reported dead
birds in other parts of Italy, but test results have not been
made public as of February 17.

ONGOING SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL MEASURES
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3. (U) Italy's dead swans were collected beginning February
1 as part of ongoing AI surveillance and monitoring measures
put into place since August last year (ref D). The positive
H5N1 results were not completely unexpected, as Greek
authorities had also found the strain in migrating swans.
These birds are not usually found this far south, but appear
to have been driven out of their usual habitats by the
unusually cold weather in northern Europe. The GOI has
undertaken surveillance and monitoring since last fall, and
the response following the confirmation of the virus in dead
swans has been swift. An ordinance issued February 11
established a protection zone for three kilometers (1.2
miles) from any areas where the dead birds were found, as
well as a surveillance zone extending in a radius of ten
kilometers (six miles). The Ministry's Veterinary Service
instituted 100 percent testing of commercial flocks in the
three affected regions, and agricultural fairs involving live
poultry and hunting of wild birds have been banned. The
movement of live poultry in these regions has been banned
until flocks are tested and found to be free of the disease.
Once the birds have been determined to be disease-free, the
meat will be able to move to market. The Italian authorities
communicated with the European Commission, which was in
agreement that border restrictions were not appropriate.


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4. (U) As of Sunday, February 12, the Ministry of Health
established two toll-free numbers for general information and
to report sighting dead birds.

GOI EARNS HIGH MARKS FROM FAO FOR RESPONSE
--------------


5. (U) On February 12, the Ministry of Health's AI Crisis
Unit met, joined by a representative from the Rome-based UN
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The GOI did not ask
for FAO technical assistance (ref A). At a February 14 press
conference (ref B),FAO officials commended Italy for taking
extremely effective and rapid control measures.

NO EVIDENCE OF H5N1 SPREAD TO DOMESTIC FLOCKS
--------------


6. (U) At the FAO press conference, Italian Chief
Veterinary Officer Dr. Romano Marabelli described ongoing
monitoring measures instituted in a series of ordinances last
fall, and stated that there is no evidence that the virus has
been transmitted to domesticated animals. Minister of Health
Francesco Storace has appeared on television several times to
reinforce this message and assure the public that poultry
meat is safe.

OTHER GOI ACTIONS ON AVIAN INFLUENZA
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7. (U) On February 9, the Council of State and the Regions
adopted Italy's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan per WHO
2005 guidelines. It will become official when published in
the Official Gazzette. Ref D reports on the draft version.
Septel on the final version is forthcoming.

TRI-MISSION RESPONSES:
--------------

8. (U) In addition to holding AI-EAC meetings, we have done
the following:

-- The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) published a
Global Agriculture Information (GAIN) report on the
appearance of H5N1 high pathogenic AI in migratory swans
(February 13).

-- The Regional Medical Officer held a Tri-Mission briefing
on AI January 20, and we distributed the RMO's powerpoint
presentation to the consulates. We have placed information
pamphlets in the Medical Unit.

-- On February 2, after approximately ten starlings were
found dead on the Embassy to Italy compound at the end of
January, Tri-Mission management issued a notice advising
employees how to deal with dead birds found on Mission
property, at home, or in the wild.

-- The Consular Section issued a Warden Message on January 27
and updated information on the Embassy website on February

14.

-- The Office of Defense Cooperation participated in the
U.S. European Command's (USEUCOM) pandemic influenza planning
conference in Stuttgart from January 9-12.

-- Consulate General Milan and Turin Olympic Games Liaison
Office participated in a DVC presentation on AI by Denise
Guild, the Nurse Practitioner in Turin on February 17.

ECONOMIC IMPACT FELT IMMEDIATELY
--------------

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9. (U) Despite FAO's public stance, the Ministry of
Health's information campaign, and frequent assurances on the
safety of Italian poultry from the Minister himself, the
Italian press reports that poultry consumption has dropped
from 50 to 70 percent since AI in wild migratory swans was
detected. Since October 2005, poultry prices have dipped 35
percent. Industry sources claim the economic damage since
the crisis began totals 650 million euro (approximately 780
million dollars),putting at risk 40,000 jobs.
SPOGLI