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
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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
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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