Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07YEREVAN1056
2007-08-28 02:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:
UPDATE ON SUSPECTED AFRICAN SWINE FEVER OUTBREAK IN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHYE #1056 2400258 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 280258Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6183 RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0060 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 2224
UNCLAS YEREVAN 001056
SIPDIS
INFO CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
MOSCOW FOR USDA/KIM SVEC
E.O. 12958l: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID SENV TBIO KFLU AM
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SUSPECTED AFRICAN SWINE FEVER OUTBREAK IN
ARMENIA
REF: YEREVAN 1051
UNCLAS YEREVAN 001056
SIPDIS
INFO CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
MOSCOW FOR USDA/KIM SVEC
E.O. 12958l: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID SENV TBIO KFLU AM
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SUSPECTED AFRICAN SWINE FEVER OUTBREAK IN
ARMENIA
REF: YEREVAN 1051
1.
1.(U) The following is an update of the suspected African Swine
Fever (ASF) outbreak described Friday in reftel. Though the virus
is widely believed to be ASF, it has not/not yet been officially
confirmed as such.
2. (U) Approximately three weeks ago the first cases of suspected
ASF in Northeastern Armenia were observed in Parzlich village near
Dilijan City, Tavush District at a large private swine farm. As of
Saturday, August 25, all 409 pigs at that farm had been slaughtered
after numerous unsuccessful efforts to save the population. This
farm has been closed and quarantined. Armenian veterinarians who
were brought in an attempt to save the pig population suspect (but
have not confirmed) that the cause was contaminated feed.
3. (SBU) Suspected ASF cases have more recently been reported in
Vahagny, Pambak, Vahagnadzor and Dsekh villages - all in Lori
District, near the Georgian border. As of Monday, August 27, no new
reports of ASF have been reported in these four villages. A
quarantine and slaughter regime was implemented there (USDA Armenia
has photographs of this regime). This morning Barekamavan village
(in Tuvush District, in northeastern Armenia, on the Georgian
border) called in a possible ASF case.
4. (U) The local population has little incentive to report suspected
ASF cases; such reporting would result in the destruction of their
entire swine population and at this time there is no compensation
plan in place. The GOAM suspects farmers are hiding possible ASF
events as a result.
5. (U) A team of three Russian scientists arrived in Armenia over
the weekend at the request of Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan.
They are inspecting farms and have indicated they believe it is ASF.
They have done preliminary testing. The Russian scientists are
from: OIE in Vladimir, Russia; the Director of Virology and
Microbiology Research Institute, Pokrov, Russia; and the manager of
a laboratory in Pokrov, Russia. Russia paid for this trip as
government-to-government collaboration at the request/invitation of
the GOAM.
6. (U) Four samples taken from stricken animals will be sent to
Russia and to Pirbright, London. It is hoped the samples will leave
today; UN/FAO is sending them via DHL. Pirbright previously sent
approved virus shipping containers to Armenia. The samples will take
2-3 business to arrive at Pirbright, and results should be ready
within 24 hours of arrival.
7. (U) (Comment). It appears that, contrary to concerns outlined in
reftel, the GOAM is now implementing a serious containment and
slaughter regime, therefore applying some of the lessons learned
from the A.I. technical assistance. Much of the current flurry of
pro-active, positive activity can be attributed to the return to
Armenia of a veterinarian from the Central Veterinary Laboratory.
It also appears that rather than seek assistance from the Government
of Georgia (as post had recommended in reftel),the GOAM has
appealed directly to the Russian government.
PERINA
SIPDIS
INFO CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
MOSCOW FOR USDA/KIM SVEC
E.O. 12958l: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID SENV TBIO KFLU AM
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SUSPECTED AFRICAN SWINE FEVER OUTBREAK IN
ARMENIA
REF: YEREVAN 1051
1.
1.(U) The following is an update of the suspected African Swine
Fever (ASF) outbreak described Friday in reftel. Though the virus
is widely believed to be ASF, it has not/not yet been officially
confirmed as such.
2. (U) Approximately three weeks ago the first cases of suspected
ASF in Northeastern Armenia were observed in Parzlich village near
Dilijan City, Tavush District at a large private swine farm. As of
Saturday, August 25, all 409 pigs at that farm had been slaughtered
after numerous unsuccessful efforts to save the population. This
farm has been closed and quarantined. Armenian veterinarians who
were brought in an attempt to save the pig population suspect (but
have not confirmed) that the cause was contaminated feed.
3. (SBU) Suspected ASF cases have more recently been reported in
Vahagny, Pambak, Vahagnadzor and Dsekh villages - all in Lori
District, near the Georgian border. As of Monday, August 27, no new
reports of ASF have been reported in these four villages. A
quarantine and slaughter regime was implemented there (USDA Armenia
has photographs of this regime). This morning Barekamavan village
(in Tuvush District, in northeastern Armenia, on the Georgian
border) called in a possible ASF case.
4. (U) The local population has little incentive to report suspected
ASF cases; such reporting would result in the destruction of their
entire swine population and at this time there is no compensation
plan in place. The GOAM suspects farmers are hiding possible ASF
events as a result.
5. (U) A team of three Russian scientists arrived in Armenia over
the weekend at the request of Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan.
They are inspecting farms and have indicated they believe it is ASF.
They have done preliminary testing. The Russian scientists are
from: OIE in Vladimir, Russia; the Director of Virology and
Microbiology Research Institute, Pokrov, Russia; and the manager of
a laboratory in Pokrov, Russia. Russia paid for this trip as
government-to-government collaboration at the request/invitation of
the GOAM.
6. (U) Four samples taken from stricken animals will be sent to
Russia and to Pirbright, London. It is hoped the samples will leave
today; UN/FAO is sending them via DHL. Pirbright previously sent
approved virus shipping containers to Armenia. The samples will take
2-3 business to arrive at Pirbright, and results should be ready
within 24 hours of arrival.
7. (U) (Comment). It appears that, contrary to concerns outlined in
reftel, the GOAM is now implementing a serious containment and
slaughter regime, therefore applying some of the lessons learned
from the A.I. technical assistance. Much of the current flurry of
pro-active, positive activity can be attributed to the return to
Armenia of a veterinarian from the Central Veterinary Laboratory.
It also appears that rather than seek assistance from the Government
of Georgia (as post had recommended in reftel),the GOAM has
appealed directly to the Russian government.
PERINA