DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON U.S. OBJECTIVES AT WORLD HEALTH

UNCLAS TASHKENT 001016 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, IO, G/AIAG, ISN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AORC PREL KFLU WHO UZ SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON U.S. OBJECTIVES AT WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY REF: A. SECSTATE 61379 ¶B. TASHKENT 946 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered ref A information to Ministry of Health Department of Sanitary Epidemiology Director Saidmurad Saidaliyev and Deputy Director Botkijon Matkarimov on May 22. Saidaliyev and Matkarimov agreed that all nations have a responsibility to share live virus samples immediately and freely, and that the United States and Russia should continue research on the live smallpox virus to develop new vaccines as long as security is adequate. Saidaliyev said that Uzbekistan would not support a resolution that sets a defined date for the destruction of the smallpox stocks. Earlier, on May 11, Poloff also delivered ref A information to MFA U.S. Division Chief Ismat Fayzullaev and MFA U.N. Division Second Secretary Oybek Abdiev (ref B). SIPDIS ¶2. (SBU) Saidaliyev explained that as part of Uzbekistan's national plan against pandemic flu, inspectors are visiting poultry farms across the country, and the State Ecological Committee is monitoring 51 water reserves visited by migratory fowl in the fall and the spring. So far, Uzbekistan has not had any registered cases of avian flu or mass bird deaths. Saidaliyev also noted that the Government has ordered 2000 boxes of Tamiflu from a Swiss manufacturer and has distributed them to all regional departments as a precaution. HANSON