TURKEY: AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK SITUATION UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000292 SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR STUDZINSKI AND LANGE USAID FOR TROSTLE, BLANCHET AND CARROLL HHS FOR WSTEIGER/PBUDASHEWITZ FAS FOR OCRA; OSTA FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS VIENNA FOR APHIS BRUSSELS FOR APHIS/FERNANDEZ GENEVA FOR HEALTH ATTACHE ROME FOR US MISSION TO FAO SIPDIS E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: KFLU ETRD EAGR KPAO TBIO AMED CASC EAID SENV TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK SITUATION UPDATE REF: ANKARA 214 AND PREVIOUS ANKARA 00000292 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. SUMMARY: Embassy Ag office is now aware of six outbreaks of Avian Influenza (AI),three of which have confirmed lab results and have been reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) by TurkeyQs Ministry of Agriculture. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) office in Turkey has expressed some concern about the most recent outbreaks since they occurred near commercial poultry operations. Contact with wild birds continues to be the cause of the outbreaks according to FAO and EU reps in Ankara. They also believe that the GOTQs response to the AI outbreaks has been sufficient but increased surveillance in wetland areas and additional public education outreach is needed. End summary. ¶2. On February 13, Embassy Ag Couns met with veterinary experts in FAOQs Ankara office to discuss the current bird flu situation in Turkey. Overall, FAO reps are satisfied that villagers are reporting cases to officials and have good cooperation with local veterinarians. However, they categorized the current situation in Turkey as QriskyQ since the number of outbreaks is increasing and two of the most recent ones were near commercial poultry operations. ¶3. As of February 15, Turkey has reported a total of three outbreaks to the OIE. These are laboratory confirmed cases having the Avian Influenza H5N1 virus. In addition to these three outbreaks, Turkey has notified the EU, but not yet to the OIE, of three others for which rapid tests have been positive and one for which the rapid test was negative. It appears that the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) has taken the necessary culling and quarantine measures. (Quarantine takes place until there is no longer risk of the disease, approximately 42 days after the Qend of the infectionQ period, which is when all disinfecting and cleaning measures have been taken to remove all possible infected items from the area.) ¶4. Summary and details of the outbreaks in 2008: The three cases reported to the OIE: a) January 18 - Sazkoy Village, Zonguldak province Q 583 total bird deaths (573 were culled in 5 villages). b) January 26 Q Yorukler village, Samsun province Q 57 total bird deaths (37 culled). c) February 1 Q Yenicam village, Sakarya province Q 3,646 total bird deaths (3,593 culled). d) Two additional suspected outbreaks occurring after February 1 and awaiting lab confirmation, according to FAO and EU epidemiologists: a) Konacik village, Sakarya province Q 1,119 total bird deaths b) Perme district, Samsun province Q 48 total bird deaths Another suspicious case occurred in Samsun province but initial rapid test results were negative so no culling was done. ¶5. FAO staff is concerned because as a result of the third reported case, culling had to take place in villages on the border of Kocaeli province, a poultry producing area with about 250,000 broilers and layers. If more outbreaks occur in this area, it could pose a threat to commercial producers. ¶6. All experts believe that the source of the virus is wild birds but spread of the virus can be controlled by biosafety measures. FAO experts continue to work closely with the EU Avian Influenza response and preparedness team in Turkey to improve biosecurity. A team will go to Samsun and Sakarya provinces next week to collect samples from wild birds to assess the role of wild birds in recent outbreaks. ¶7. According to local FAO epidemiologists, MARAQs response to this yearQs AI outbreaks is satisfactory but more surveillance is needed in wetland areas. They also believe that the public education ANKARA 00000292 002.2 OF 002 program needs to be evaluated and more tailored to target audiences with clear, simple messages. FAO reps also recommend a comprehensive study of wild birds in Turkey. Wilson