TURKEY AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - NO HUMAN CASES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000354

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR STUDZINSKI AND LANGE
USAID FOR TROSTLE, BLANCHET AND CARROLL
HHS FOR WSTEIGER/PBUDASHEWITZ
FAS FOR OCRA/FLEMINGS AND CURTIS, OSTA/WETZEL
FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS
VIENNA FOR APHIS
BAGHDAD FOR FAS
BRUSSELS FOR APHIS/FERNANDEZ
GENEVA FOR HEALTH ATTACHE
ROME FOR US MISSION TO FAO

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: EAGR TBIO AMED CASC EAID SENV TU KFLU
SUBJECT: TURKEY AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - NO HUMAN CASES

REF: A) ANKARA 283 AND PREVIOUS

B) ADANA 18


1. SUMMARY: The GOT moved rapidly to contain outbreaks of avian
influenza in chickens in villages in Batman and Diyarbakir provinces
in the southeast that began on February 5 (refs). Ministry of
Agriculture (MARA) officials culled nearly 3,000 birds and are
implementing other appropriate biosecurity measures. Although a
number of people have been hospitalized and under observation, no
human cases have been diagnosed. Samples from seven hospitalized
patients tested negative for H5N1. The World Bank convened a
meeting of international partners to coordinate activities
associated with its $54 million package. It executed its $34
million loan and transferred funds to the GOT Treasury, including
the $1 million USAID grant. Parties will form a working group to
coordinate and strategize on restructuring the backyard poultry
sector. End Summary.

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AI Outbreak in Poultry in Batman and Diyarbakir
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2. A total of nearly 3,000 birds have been culled since February 8
in the provinces of Batman and Diyarbakir since the first outbreak
was discovered in the small village of Bogazkoy near Batman on
February 5 (refs). There are new suspicious cases of poultry deaths
in three locations in Diyarbakir Province and in another village in
Batman Province. Four samples taken from these new locations were
sent to Elazig Veterinary Control Laboratory on February 15. The
results of rapid tests were positive for H5N1. Biosecurity measures
include cleaning, disinfection, quarantine, and surveillance, as
well as closing the local school as a precaution against mud on
school buses spreading the virus.


3. On Feb 14, MARA confirmed that the H5N1 strain of AI was present
in birds in the Yesilalan field in the Silvan district of Diyarbakir
and in the Esentepe field in Batman district. Culling and
quarantine procedures have been implemented. Meanwhile, authorities
in southwestern Anatolia, far from the Batman outbreak, are
investigating 20-25 wild ducks found dead near Burdur Lake in the
Keciborlu District of Isparta. On February 12, samples were sent to
Konya Veterinary Control and Research Laboratory. Initial test
results were negative for AI but further investigations continue.



4. Overall, public and media reaction has been much more measured
than last year. All confirmed cases have been in backyard farms in
rural areas in the southeast, hundreds of miles from commercial
poultry operations in the west. According to poultry producer
associations, unlike last year there has been no drop in poultry and
egg demand since the first outbreak last week.

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No Human Cases
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5. At this time, there do not appear to be any avian influenza
cases in humans. On February 11, the Ministry of Health announced
that tests for four initially hospitalized patients in Batman were
negative. Three other patients from Batman were subsequently
hospitalized and under observation for flu-like symptoms, but all
tested negative and have been released from the hospital. Including
other people deemed potentially exposed, a total of some twenty
tests have been carried out at Ankara Refik Saydam Institute, and
all have been negative for avian influenza. The CDC has been
working closely with this laboratory and has provided equipment and
primers for testing. WHO still encourages the Ministry of Health
(MOH) to send specimens for confirmation testing in the UK, but so
far they have not done so for these outbreaks.

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International Partners - How to Restructure?
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6. At February 14-15 meetings convened by the World Bank,
international partners, including Embassy officers, were briefed on
the Batman situation and discussed implementation of the $54 million
response and restructuring program. FAO veterinarians reported on
their visit to the outbreak villages. FAO and others applauded the
MARA and MOH response to the relatively small outbreak. Reaction
time was fast: the first poultry death notification on February 5
prompted the start of culling on February 8, based on rapid test
results. FAO did note that despite significant training efforts,
there is still room for improvement in biosecurity: local MOH
officials were negligent in not wearing protective gear in the
quarantine area, and failed to disinfect their vehicle before
leaving.


7. The World Bank reported that the loan and grant package,
including the $1 million from USAID, finally was executed and money
transferred to the Turkish Treasury in early February. World Bank
staff and consultants reviewed the terms of reference of the entire
project, and agreed on the need for closer cooperation on how to
address the informal backyard poultry production in Turkey. After
detailed discussion of the challenges, it was agreed to create a
working group of stakeholders, including Embassy, to explore
strategies for implementation of the Backyard Poultry Restructuring
component. There will be an FAO-organized AI animal health
workshop in Ankara at the end of February.

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View from the Ministry of Health
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8. MOH Yildirim Bayazit told us on January 31 that MOH and MARA
were coordinating. He wondered if compensation funding and
structure were clear enough to assure that individuals have
incentive to quickly report suspected cases. Bayazit also said
Ankara was working closely with the provinces on readiness and there
were good stocks of tamiflu and protective gear. He said that MOH
was doing active field training in WHO-guideline clinical procedures
and they had just disseminated a new hospital crisis guide in
Turkish.


9. Bayazit said WHO-Europe is planning a conference on clinical
aspects and care of human infection with avian influenza (H5N1)
virus March 19-21 2007 in Antalya, Turkey, but he did not have more
details on agenda or participants. Embassy MED will likely
participate. Bayazit complained that World Bank and EU funding had
been very slow, despite promises of expediting normal procedures.
Bayazit was complimentary of the relative speed of the CDC grant for
$325,000 to enhance regional lab capacity.

Wilson