Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA470
2006-02-15 15:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AVIAN INFLUENZA LIKELY IN AUSTRIAN SWANS
how-toVZCZCXRO8455 OO RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHVI #0470 0461558 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 151558Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2403 INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1093 RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA IMMEDIATE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS VIENNA 000470
SIPDIS
SIPDIS, SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR OES/IHA, EUR/AGS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC TBIO SENV EAGR EAID ECON WHO AU
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA LIKELY IN AUSTRIAN SWANS
REF: 05 VIENNA 3865
UNCLAS VIENNA 000470
SIPDIS
SIPDIS, SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR OES/IHA, EUR/AGS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC TBIO SENV EAGR EAID ECON WHO AU
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA LIKELY IN AUSTRIAN SWANS
REF: 05 VIENNA 3865
1. (SBU) The Ministry of Health and Women's Affairs (MoH)
publicly announced on February 14 that tests by the Austrian
National Veterinary Institute indicate there is a 70%
probability that two dead swans found in southern Austria
were infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The MoH
followed up on February 15, confirming a third swan had
tentatively tested positive for H5N1. Elisabeth Reisp, a
veterinary expert in the MoH, told us on February 15 that
the MoH is confident the swans were infected. Reisp said
the MoH had sent samples to the EU reference laboratory in
the United Kingdom to confirm the results. Tests on an
additional 19 dead birds in the same region came back
negative for the H5N1 virus.
2. (U) In accordance with its national Crisis Plan on Avian
Influenza, the MoH set up a protective zone within three
kilometers of the site where the swans were found. The
government has introduced a trade ban in poultry and poultry
products within this zone for 30 days. In addition, the MoH
set up a surveillance zone within 10 kilometers around the
site for a period of three weeks. Poultry within the
surveillance zone must remain indoors during this 30-day
period. Exports to and imports from the surveillance zone
require official approval.
3. (U) Simultaneously, the MoH is now requiring farmers to
conduct indoor feeding of all poultry in high-risk areas,
which it described as waterways that host migratory birds.
At this stage, the MoH does not plan to introduce a
countrywide ordinance to keep poultry indoors. However, the
MoH underlined that it would consider this option, if there
were more infections in the near term.
4. (U) According to Reisp, the infected swans probably came
from a relatively large group of swans migrating between
Greece, Northern Italy, Slovenia and Austria. The MoH
believes the infected birds originated in the Danube Delta.
5. (U) The latest developments do not trigger any of the
tripwires in Vienna's Tri-Mission AI Contingency Plans
(reftel). The Embassy has, however, reconfirmed the
Contingency Plan's validity, updated the Tri-Mission avian
flu website, is considering a warden message, and is
consulting with neighboring posts to coordinate our message.
MCCAW#
SIPDIS
SIPDIS, SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR OES/IHA, EUR/AGS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC TBIO SENV EAGR EAID ECON WHO AU
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA LIKELY IN AUSTRIAN SWANS
REF: 05 VIENNA 3865
1. (SBU) The Ministry of Health and Women's Affairs (MoH)
publicly announced on February 14 that tests by the Austrian
National Veterinary Institute indicate there is a 70%
probability that two dead swans found in southern Austria
were infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The MoH
followed up on February 15, confirming a third swan had
tentatively tested positive for H5N1. Elisabeth Reisp, a
veterinary expert in the MoH, told us on February 15 that
the MoH is confident the swans were infected. Reisp said
the MoH had sent samples to the EU reference laboratory in
the United Kingdom to confirm the results. Tests on an
additional 19 dead birds in the same region came back
negative for the H5N1 virus.
2. (U) In accordance with its national Crisis Plan on Avian
Influenza, the MoH set up a protective zone within three
kilometers of the site where the swans were found. The
government has introduced a trade ban in poultry and poultry
products within this zone for 30 days. In addition, the MoH
set up a surveillance zone within 10 kilometers around the
site for a period of three weeks. Poultry within the
surveillance zone must remain indoors during this 30-day
period. Exports to and imports from the surveillance zone
require official approval.
3. (U) Simultaneously, the MoH is now requiring farmers to
conduct indoor feeding of all poultry in high-risk areas,
which it described as waterways that host migratory birds.
At this stage, the MoH does not plan to introduce a
countrywide ordinance to keep poultry indoors. However, the
MoH underlined that it would consider this option, if there
were more infections in the near term.
4. (U) According to Reisp, the infected swans probably came
from a relatively large group of swans migrating between
Greece, Northern Italy, Slovenia and Austria. The MoH
believes the infected birds originated in the Danube Delta.
5. (U) The latest developments do not trigger any of the
tripwires in Vienna's Tri-Mission AI Contingency Plans
(reftel). The Embassy has, however, reconfirmed the
Contingency Plan's validity, updated the Tri-Mission avian
flu website, is considering a warden message, and is
consulting with neighboring posts to coordinate our message.
MCCAW#