Cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza Confirmed in Poultry in

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000283 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/RUS, OES/STC, EB/TPP/ATP, EB/TPP/BTA HHS FOR WSTEIGER/PBUDASHEWITZ USAID FOR BLANCHET, TROSTLE AND CARROLL FAS FOR OCRA/FLEMINGS/CHEN/CURTIS, OSTA/DEVER FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS VIENNA PASS APHIS BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ GENEVA PASS HEALTH ATTACHE USDA PASS TO APHIS E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: ETRD EAGR KPAO TBIO AMED CASC EAID SENV TU KFLU SUBJECT: Cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza Confirmed in Poultry in Batman ¶1. (U) Summary. In a press release, the Ministry of Agriculture (MARA) confirmed that 170 birds died of Avian Influenza (AI) on a small farm in the village of Bogazkoy in the province of Batman. On Feb. 9, MARA confirmed that the birds were indeed infected with the H5N1 strain of AI. All precautionary measures have been taken. Four children with flu-like symptoms from that province are being examined and samples are also being sent to Ankara for testing. End summary. -------------- Avian Influenza Cases in Poultry Confirmed -------------- ¶2. (U) On February 8, MARA announced that 170 poultry had died of AI since February 5 in the village of Bogazkoy in Batman province. Samples were sent to Ankara's Etlik laboratory to determine the AI strain. On Feb. 9, MARA confirmed that the birds were indeed infected with the H5N1 strain of AI. These are the first cases of AI in poultry since March 31, 2006. Since that time, through monitoring and continual surveillance, MARA had collected 700 samples of suspicious AI cases, which all tested negative. ¶3. (U) MARA immediately began implementing the National Emergency Action Plan for AI. As part of this plan, MARA's General Directorate for Protection and Control (GDPC) established a National Disease Control Center at its headquarters in Ankara and also a regional control center in Batman. These centers serve to coordinate all activities related to this particular incident. ¶4. (U) In accordance with standard response measures, a 3 kilometer quarantine zone and 7 km. radius active surveillance zone have been established. On Feb. 9, MARA confirmed that all 790 birds in the 3 km quarantine zone had been culled and that all disinfection procedures had been completed. MARA reported that there was no evidence that birds had died of AI in the two other villages (Ruzgarli and Aydinli) within the 3 km quarantine area. Authorities have banned all movement and selling of live avian products in Batman until further notice. In addition, since it is suspected that this outbreak was caused by migratory birds, measures are being taken to control the area around Kirkat Lake in the region. MARA is carefully monitoring this area for other signs of the disease. Ag Minister Eker is on his way to Batman to assess the situation and show the government's support for the villagers affected by the outbreak. ¶5. (SBU) The GOT, with assistance from international organizations, such as USAID, WHO, FAO and UNICEF, started a intensive public awareness campaign in the Fall of 2006 to educate those living in rural areas about AI symptoms, safe poultry handling and precautionary measures. As a result, the farmers in Batman reacted very quickly and properly during this outbreak. -------------- Human Cases Suspected -------------- ¶6. (U) The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed that four children from Batman who had been playing with birds were admitted to a local hospital with flu-like symptoms. After close examination, it was determined that three of the children simply had human influenza and were released from the hospital and sent back to Bogazkoy village today. However, the fourth child (2 yrs old) was sent to a hospital in another province (Diyarbakir) for further testing since he was diagnosed with pneumonia. Although these children do not/not seem to have AI, samples of all four children were sent to Ankara for testing. Results are expected to be announced in a press conference this evening. The MOH sent a group to conduct further research and take surveillance measures in all of the villages in Batman and some in Mardin. In addition, the MOH has sent tamiflu to the Provincial Health Directorates of Batman and other provinces in the region for precautionary measures. -------------- USG Support -------------- ¶7. (U) US Embassy offered assistance to both MARA and MOH in this case. They thanked us for the offer and said that at this time there is no need but they will consider our offer and if the need arises, they will notify us. ¶8. (U) USDA has funded participation for Turkish veterinarians in two AI-related training courses since September 2006 and is currently exploring other opportunities to provide training to Turkish vets and poultry experts both in Turkey and abroad. In September 2006, two vets attended the Poultry Improvement Plan conference in Portland, Oregan, and this week, veterinarians from the Elazig, Samsun, and Istanbul State labs are participating in an HPAI diagnostics course in Ames, Iowa. ¶9. (S) USDA plans to nominate and fund participation for a high level Turkish government vet in the OIE and FAO sponsored AI vaccination meeting to be held in Italy in March 2007. FAS Ankara hopes to be able to send more Turkish vet and poultry experts to a USDA-sponsored epidemiology course in May in Vienna, Austria. If successful, USDA is considering offering a two-week long follow-up lab training in Ankara for about 25 Turkish and Azeri participants sometime this summer. The Turkish and Azeri Ag Ministries have expressed interest in such training. WILSON