BULGARIA'S LATEST RESPONSE TO AVIAN FLU

UNCLAS SOFIA 000059 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, SCOTT BRANDON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO ECON PREL SOCI BG KSTH WHO SUBJECT: BULGARIA'S LATEST RESPONSE TO AVIAN FLU ¶1. (U) The Embassy's avian flu working group met January 12 to discuss the GOB's latest response to the threat of AI following the recent deaths of three people in neighboring Turkey from the virus. It also reviewed Post's AI tripwires and agreed none had been reached. According to Embassy contacts, the GOB is negotiating with the pharmaceutical company, LaRoche, to supply 80,000 doses of Tamiflu to Bulgaria. This amount is expected to partially cover of Bulgaria's needs under its current Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan, which is still in draft form. The doses, however, will not be available until April. During a recent meeting with U.S. Congressman Goodlatte, the Agriculture Minister made a request for assistance in obtaining 1000 doses of Tamiflu for its first-responders. The country currently does not have reserves of Tamiflu to protect its field veterinarian and medical personnel. ¶2. (U) Apart from Tamiflu, the Agriculture Ministry is seeking lab equipment that would shorten the time it takes to test for the virus to one day. According to Post's agricultural attach, the USDA may be able to assist with this request and we are in the process of identifying U.S. manufacturers who can supply this equipment. We will try to assist them in obtaining the requested Tamiflu. The Agriculture Ministry also is requesting a mobile incinerator unit. We do not, however, considered this unit to be a necessity, as the more basic procedure of burning culled birds in the ground has proven sufficient in Romania. ¶3. (U) Although the Agriculture Ministry appears to have a good capacity to respond to a possible outbreak, we are concerned by its lack of a public awareness campaign. Small local farmers--and the veterinarians who work closely with them--still do not have sufficient information on preventative measures against avian flu, according to Embassy contacts. In particular, farmers need to be better informed about the importance of reducing contact between humans and infected birds. No infected birds have been found in Bulgaria but we are not certain sufficient testing is being done. HEALTH MINISTRY LACKS SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO RESPOND -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) The Ministry of Health last November made a request for laboratory testing equipment to improve its response capability but recently told us that their most "immediate" requests have been covered under the current budget. The MOH's response plan for AI still has not been approved and the Ministry fears it will not receive the sufficient amount of funds it believes is necessary to respond to the threat. The MOH's surge capacity remains limited. There still is only one lab in the country that can test for the virus. While some people could be referred to the infectious departments of district hospitals in the event of an outbreak, other hospitals would need to be converted if the outbreak was large. NEXT STEPS FOR THE EMBASSY COMMUNITY -------------- ¶5. (U) The Embassy plans next week to hold a town-hall meeting to inform the Embassy and local American community about the latest developments related to AI. The Embassy's Health unit reported the Tamiflu supply expected from M/MED will not arrive until May or June. The unit currently has enough doses to treat about 50 people. However, we are in process of acquiring additional doses--for approximately 10 or 15 people--from local pharmacies. The Health Unit also is considering acquiring testing kits for the common strain of influenza (type A). The Consular section has not issued any new notices regarding avian flu but news about AI is prominent on its website. In the coming weeks, the Agricultural section plans to follow up on the requests for equipment from the Ministry Agriculture and encourage the Ministry to step up its public awareness campaign. Meanwhile, USAID is working to update our latest assessment of Bulgaria's prevention measures and preparedness against AI. BEYRLE