Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA610
2006-02-28 15:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

AVIAN FLU: EU HEALTH MINISTERS AFFIRM NEED FOR

Tags:  KFLU ASEC TBIO SENV EAGR EAID ECON WHO AU 
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RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVI #0610 0591558
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 281558Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2533
INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1098
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA IMMEDIATE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS VIENNA 000610 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS, SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR OES/IHA, EUR/AGS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU ASEC TBIO SENV EAGR EAID ECON WHO AU
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: EU HEALTH MINISTERS AFFIRM NEED FOR
COORDINATED PUBLIC OUTREACH

REF: A) VIENNA 488 (B) VIENNA 470

UNCLAS VIENNA 000610

SIPDIS

SIPDIS, SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR OES/IHA, EUR/AGS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU ASEC TBIO SENV EAGR EAID ECON WHO AU
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: EU HEALTH MINISTERS AFFIRM NEED FOR
COORDINATED PUBLIC OUTREACH

REF: A) VIENNA 488 (B) VIENNA 470


1. (SBU) Summary: During a February 24 Informal Meeting on
the "Impact of Avian Influenza on Public Health in Europe,"
EU Health Ministers stressed the importance of public
awareness. Austrian Health Minister Maria Rauch-Kallat
pointed to the need for more public outreach, noting the
Presidency had developed a series of information sheets on
its website. EU Commissioner Markos Kyprianou called for a
calm approach, noting that authorities had effectively
implemented containment strategies in affected areas. Rauch-
Kallat stressed there is no risk in eating poultry,
announcing poultry would be the main course for the
ministers' lunch. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On February 24, EU and EU Candidate Health
Ministers, EU Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, and the WHO
Regional Manager met in Vienna to discuss the latest
developments on the spread of avian influenza in Europe.
According to the Austrian host, Health Minister Maria Rauch-
Kallat, the meeting aimed to coordinate strategies to
contain risks of further infections and "to conduct
proactive and transparent information policy tothe public."


3. (SBU) The meeting turned out tomore of a public affairs
event to calm public concerns over the spread of the disease
than a working session to identify new measures to battle
the disease. Rauch-Kallat emphasized that consumption of
poultry products is safe. To highlight her point, she
announced that poultry would be the main course at lunch.


4. (SBU) Rauch-Kallat also highlighted the importance of
public outreach in helping to educate the public to avoid
risky behavior. To address this issue, a series of
information sheets are available online on the Presidency's
website. In addition to a general information sheet, there
are separate sheets targeted at the following groups
identified to be at higher risk: schools, travelers,
physicians, poultry farmers, veterinarians, and hunters.


5. (SBU) During a press conference after the meeting, EU
Commissioner Kyprianou noted that procedures to fight avian
flu had worked well. For example, in areas where there is
risk of poultry infection, authorities had implemented
containment strategies (culling, keeping poultry indoors, a
three kilometer protection zone, a 10 kilometer surveillance
zone, and a trade ban). Kyprianou did not answer questions
on the need to vaccinate poultry. According to media
reports, Member States are still split on this issue, with
Austria opposing vaccinations. Asked about further measures
in risk areas, Kyprianou said, "We cannot kill every bird
coming from areas suspected as source regions," such as the
Danube Delta. The EU Commission has earmarked 20 million
Euros for research on avian flu and is drafting a "white
paper" to discuss further action.

MCCAW#