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.

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Avian Influenza Cases in Poultry Confirmed
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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.

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Human Cases Suspected
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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.

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USG Support
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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