Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUSCAT120
2008-02-10 13:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
MINISTRY REAFFIRMS OMAN AS AVIAN INFLUENZA-FREE
how-toVZCZCXRO4163 RR RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD DE RUEHMS #0120 0411311 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 101311Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9255 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000120
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, OES/PCI
STATE PASS TO CDC/ATLANTA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KFLU PREL MU
SUBJECT: MINISTRY REAFFIRMS OMAN AS AVIAN INFLUENZA-FREE
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000120
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, OES/PCI
STATE PASS TO CDC/ATLANTA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KFLU PREL MU
SUBJECT: MINISTRY REAFFIRMS OMAN AS AVIAN INFLUENZA-FREE
1. (U) On January 29, Amman ESTH Regional Officer and POLE
Assistant received an update on Oman's surveillance and
detection of avian influenza (AI) from Dr. Salah al-Awaidy,
Director of the Department of Communicable Diseases
Surveillance and Control (DCDSC),Ministry of Health. Awaidy
stressed that Oman has had no animal or human avian influenza
cases to date. Nonetheless, he added that Oman takes the AI
threat seriously, given recent cases in Saudi Arabia,
Pakistan and India, as well as the seasonal migration of
birds through Oman. He explained that a national
preparedness plan has been completed and tested through
several tabletop exercises. Oman does not undertake any
regular sampling and testing procedures unless AI outbreak
indicators are detected. Awaidy noted that through Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) coordination mechanisms, he
receives good updates from Saudi Arabia in its dealings with
recent AI cases. (Note: Awaidy remarked that most chicken
sold in Oman originates from Saudi Arabia and praised Saudi
Arabia's commercial poultry farms, calling them a "real
business," with poultry given five-star treatment. End Note.)
2. (U) Awaidy praised DSDSC's excellent cooperation with the
Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-3) in Cairo,
characterizing his last seven years of cooperation with NAMRU
as a solid partnership. He recounted that NAMRU has helped
Oman in infectious disease control management plans,
pneumonia prevention protocols, provision of laboratory
equipment, and reviews of Oman's AI surveillance system.
3. (SBU) Awaidy remains concerned about Oman's exposure to
recent Rift Valley fever cases reported in Kenya and Somalia,
noting that animals from Africa frequently enter Oman. While
Oman monitors all animals entering the country, given the
sometimes porous borders with the UAE and Yemen, the
government often has to resort to the "rumor notification"
system to undertake sampling and testing in specific areas.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, OES/PCI
STATE PASS TO CDC/ATLANTA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KFLU PREL MU
SUBJECT: MINISTRY REAFFIRMS OMAN AS AVIAN INFLUENZA-FREE
1. (U) On January 29, Amman ESTH Regional Officer and POLE
Assistant received an update on Oman's surveillance and
detection of avian influenza (AI) from Dr. Salah al-Awaidy,
Director of the Department of Communicable Diseases
Surveillance and Control (DCDSC),Ministry of Health. Awaidy
stressed that Oman has had no animal or human avian influenza
cases to date. Nonetheless, he added that Oman takes the AI
threat seriously, given recent cases in Saudi Arabia,
Pakistan and India, as well as the seasonal migration of
birds through Oman. He explained that a national
preparedness plan has been completed and tested through
several tabletop exercises. Oman does not undertake any
regular sampling and testing procedures unless AI outbreak
indicators are detected. Awaidy noted that through Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) coordination mechanisms, he
receives good updates from Saudi Arabia in its dealings with
recent AI cases. (Note: Awaidy remarked that most chicken
sold in Oman originates from Saudi Arabia and praised Saudi
Arabia's commercial poultry farms, calling them a "real
business," with poultry given five-star treatment. End Note.)
2. (U) Awaidy praised DSDSC's excellent cooperation with the
Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-3) in Cairo,
characterizing his last seven years of cooperation with NAMRU
as a solid partnership. He recounted that NAMRU has helped
Oman in infectious disease control management plans,
pneumonia prevention protocols, provision of laboratory
equipment, and reviews of Oman's AI surveillance system.
3. (SBU) Awaidy remains concerned about Oman's exposure to
recent Rift Valley fever cases reported in Kenya and Somalia,
noting that animals from Africa frequently enter Oman. While
Oman monitors all animals entering the country, given the
sometimes porous borders with the UAE and Yemen, the
government often has to resort to the "rumor notification"
system to undertake sampling and testing in specific areas.
GRAPPO