H5N1 CONFIRMED IN ISRAEL POULTRY DEATHS; ONE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 001105

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR NEA/IPA, NEA/RA, OES/IHA, OPS CENTER
GENEVA FOR WHO REP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR AMGT AMED CASC KSCA KWBG IS ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI SOCIETY
SUBJECT: H5N1 CONFIRMED IN ISRAEL POULTRY DEATHS; ONE
MILLION BIRDS TO BE CULLED

REF: TEL AVIV 1087

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) Summary: On March 19, the Kimron Veterinary
Institute Laboratory at Bet Dagan confirmed the presence of
the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in turkey flocks from the
kibbutzim at Ein Hashelosha and Holit, and at Sede Moshe and
Nahshom. The outbreak has not spread beyond these areas
(identified previously in reftel). There are no confirmed
human cases of H5N1. Seven poultry workers from the
affected region in the Negev, previously hospitalized for
testing and observation, were discharged over the weekend,
after their serology was found to be negative for the
presence of the H5N1 antigens. The MOA is taking steps to
prevent the spread of the disease through the culling of
approximately one million birds in the three-kilometer
radius of the affected turkey farms. Assessment of the
economic impact of the outbreak is just beginning. The
Cabinet met March 19 to discuss a compensation package for
affected poultry farmers. Cooperative efforts between MOA
and Israeli Veterinary Services officials, and Veterinary
Service in Gaza and West Bank PA MOA officials are underway.
Meetings were scheduled for today at the Erez crossing and
on March 21 in Beit-Il near Ramallah to discuss coordination
of epidemiological efforts, disease control and possible
technical assistance. The GOI has announced that there is
no significant public health risk. End Summary

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H5N1 CONFIRMED IN FOWL, NO CASES CONFIRMED IN HUMANS
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2. (SBU) There are no confirmed human cases of H5N1
avian influenza. Seven poultry workers from the affected
region in the Negev, who were hospitalized for testing and
observation, were discharged over the weekend, after their
serology was found to be negative for the presence of the
H5N1 antigens.


3. (U) According to the Director of the Ministry of
Health's Emergency and Disaster Management Division Dr. Laor
Daniel, the MOH is administering Tamiflu as a prophalactic
treatment to approximately sixty individuals, comprised
primarily of poultry workers and MOA/MOD culling team
members, who may have come in contact with infected birds.
As a surveillance and monitoring measure, the MOH has sent
blood samples from several dozen of poultry workers from the
affected farms for laboratory testing.


4. (SBU) Both PCR testing and pathogen isolation by egg
inoculation conducted at Kimron Veterinary Institute have
confirmed the presence of the H5N1 in tissue samples from
dead birds sent from each of the affected turkey farms.
What is unknown at this time is the source of the outbreak
of the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak. MOA Director of
Veterinary Services Dr. Moshe Haimovich told econoff that
one possible theory of vector transmission is that cages
used to transport fowl from one or more or the outbreak
sites to the slaughtering facility were not properly
disinfected before reusing the cages to transport fowl from
other sites.

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ONE MILLION BIRDS EXPECTED TO BE CULLED
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5. (U) On March 18 and 19, Ministry of Agriculture teams
supervised the initial culling of birds at the affected
turkey farms located at Ein Hashlosha and Holit kibbutzims,
and at Moshav Sde Moshe, and within a three-kilometer
radius. Approximately 10,200 turkeys were destroyed at Ein
Hashelosha, 21,000 turkeys at Holit, and 6,000 turkeys at
Sede Moshe. On March 20, culling of fowl within a three-
kilometer radius continued at Kibbutz Sufa near Holit and at
the Kissufim and Nirim kibbutzim near Ein Hasholsha. MOA
teams, aided by Defense Ministry contractors, plan to begin
culling 19,500 turkeys at the affected farm located at
Nachshon on March 21. Fowl will also be culled within a
three-kilometer radius at Kibbutz Harel, and the Tekoa and
Tzalfon moshavim. The MOA expects the completion of the
culling of approximately one million fowl by the end of the
week.


6. (SBU) The Ministry of Agriculture anticipates the
arrival of a shipment of four million doses of avian
influenza vaccine for poultry from the Netherlands within
the next day or so. No decision has been made at this time
as to whether the vaccine will be used. The vaccine would
be used if the measures undertaken in the affected areas
prove to be ineffective. Dr. Hamovich expressed to econoff
March 19 that Ministry of Agriculture is cautiously
optimistic that they have contained the outbreak in the four
quarantined areas.

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ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF SITUATION JUST BEGINNING
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7. (U) The impact on the poultry industry in Israel was
felt immediately following the announcement of the avian
influenza outbreak in the press on March 17 when the
European Commission announced that it was placing a
temporary ban on the import of poultry products from Israel
following the preliminary confirmation of the H5N1 strain at
four turkey farms. According to a report in the Jerusalem
Post, the EU will convene this week to review the ban.


8. (U) Consumer demand for poultry products has decreased,
despite public safety assurances made by the MOH and MOA.
In particular, sales dropped in outdoor markets. Stall
owners in Tel Aviv's Carmel outdoor market reported a fifty
percent drop in poultry sales on Friday.


9. (SBU) The Israel Farmers Organization is already
lobbying the GOI for full compensation to poultry farmers
who have lost livestock in the affected areas. Poultry
farmers are entitled to a pro-rated compensation package to
offset their financial losses under a GOI statute pertaining
to the destruction of poultry ordered by a governmental
entity to prevent a disease outbreak. Under this statute,
the GOI would reimburse farmers for approximately seventy
percent of direct costs they incurred. Compensation is also
based on the market age of the flock. Typically, turkey
farmers earn 55 shekels for each female bird and 110 shekels
for each male bird that they sell. In anticipation of a
potential avian influenza outbreak, the MOA updated the
Compensation Tables two months ago which will assist poultry
farmers in receiving a realistic market price for the
poultry they lost. A preliminary estimate of the
compensation package a farmer would receive for a flock of
200,000 birds is one to seven million NIS. This amount does
not include the expenses required to restart production.

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MOA REACHES OUT TO PALESTINIAN VETERINARY SERVICE
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10. (SBU) According to the MOA, cooperative efforts between
Israeli Veterinary Services officials and PA Veterinary
Service officials in Gaza and West Bank are underway. A
meeting took place today at the Erez crossing; another is
scheduled for March 21 in Beit-Il near Ramallah to discuss
coordination of epidemiological efforts, disease control and
possible technical assistance.


11. (SBU) Dr. Haimovich told econoff that instructional
DVDs on preventing the spread of avian influenza were sent
to the IDF Office at Erez on March 19 for distribution to
the Veterinary Service in Gaza.


12. (SBU) One item which is still pending is a decision
from the MOH on Dr. Hamovich's request to provide personal
protective equipment (PPEs) to Palestinians. Dr. Laor
Daniel, Director of the MOH Emergency and Disaster
Management Division told ESTH Officer March 20 that the MOH
was waiting for a formal request from the Palestinian MOH.