AVIAN FLU: PORTUGAL PREPARES FOR NEXT MIGRATORY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 000104

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G, OES/IHA, GENEVA FOR WHO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR ECON PREL SOCI KSCA WHO PO
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: PORTUGAL PREPARES FOR NEXT MIGRATORY
SEASON

REF: A) 06 LISBON 724

LISBON 00000104 001.2 OF 002


Summary
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1. Portugal,s Ministry of Agriculture tested over 5000 birds
for avian influenza in 2006 with no detection of the H5N1
virus. A national campaign to register domestic birds for
quarantine contingency resulted in over six million birds
being documented on-line. Although Portugal decided not to
vaccinate birds in general, it did vaccinate 275 wild birds
near paths of migration. In addition, the Ministry of Health
recently completed action plans for all six pandemic phases
as outlined by the World Health Organization. End Summary.

Bird Testing Reveals No Evidence of H5N1
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2. Ministry of Agriculture Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer
Fernando Bernardo told Pol/EconOff that Portugal had tested
over 5,000 birds for avian influenza in 2006. All samples
collected were negative for H5N1 though tests revealed other
strains of influenza (H5, H7, and H9). The majority of
testing occurred the first quarter of 2006, with only around
300 tests between August and October. Bernardo noted that
birds were randomly selected for testing, but that the
emphasis was placed on four main resting places for migratory
birds: the mouths of the Mondego and Tagus Rivers, the dunes
of Sao Jacinto in northern Portugal, and the Santo Andre
Lagoon near Sines. In these areas, the Ministry of
Environment and the Institute of Nature Conservation
collected fecal and pharyngeal swabs of wild birds being
tagged and sent the samples to the Ministry of Agriculture
for testing. Bernardo expected testing to increase
significantly in the Spring 2007 as migratory birds return
from West Africa.

Over Six Million Birds Registered
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3. Portugal and Denmark are the only two EU countries with
campaigns to register domestic birds, according to Bernando.
Portugal decided on registration in early 2006 due to the
high number of Portuguese living in rural/suburban areas who
raise birds for personal consumption. Local townships remain
responsible for registering birds, and almost 87% of the
townships had completed the task by October 2006. (Note: The
deadline for doing so was the end of April). As an incentive
to register birds, the GOP announced early in 2006 that the
government would only reimburse owners for registered
chickens, ducks, and other birds in case of culling due to an
H5N1 outbreak. Bernardo reported that over six million birds
had been registered through an online database, but he
believed the figure to be inflated by owners wanting to take
advantage of the reimbursement scheme.

Vaccination of Wild Birds
--------------

4. Unlike some EU countries, Portugal decided against bird
vaccination in general, citing the high cost and short
life-span of commercial poultry. However, the Ministry of
Agriculture did vaccinate 275 wild birds in December 2005 in
two zoos located in migratory paths because these birds come
into regular contact with humans. The Agricultural Ministry
is currently debating whether or not to re-vaccinate these
wild birds in 2007.

National Health Contingency and Action Plans Completed
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5. Portugal,s Ministry of Health (MOH) Director General for
Health Francisco George outlined for Pol/EconOff the
development of the country,s Avian Flu Health Strategy,
which included action plans for all six pandemic phases as
outlined by the World Health Organization. In January 2006,
the MOH released its National Contingency Plan for Pandemic
Influenza. This was followed in March 2006 by the
publication of the Phase Three Action Plan (the current phase
where a new subtype, H5N1, is detected but there are no
clusters of human to human transmission). However, the
multidisciplinary team only completed the action plans for
Phases Four to Six in November 2006. George hopes to post
the plans on the recently created MOH influenza website by
the end of January 2007. In addition, the MOH plans to
prepare over 75,000 booklets on Phase Six (Pandemic Phase)
preparations to mail to health care professionals at their
workplaces. On the pharmaceutical side, the 2.5 million
doses of Tamiflu (enough to distribute to a quarter of the
population) which the GOP ordered in 2005 arrived in June

2006. Additional doses of Tamiflu are available from the
private sector, but George could not provide an exact figure.

LISBON 00000104 002.2 OF 002




Comment
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6. The GOP utilized the past few months to cement pandemic
influenza plans and procedures. Both Bernardo and George
expressed relief about the H5N1,s apparent lack of westward
movement this winter season as opposed to last year,s.
While avian influenza has dropped out of the public eye due
to the quiet flu season, both ministries intend to remain
vigilant - especially when migratory birds return from Africa
in the Spring.
Hoffman