Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT553
2008-05-15 04:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEKISTAN: GOVERNMENT DENIES REPORTS OF SMALLPOX
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000553
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2018
TAGS: TBIO PGOV UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: GOVERNMENT DENIES REPORTS OF SMALLPOX
Classified By: Poloff Steven Prohaska for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000553
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2018
TAGS: TBIO PGOV UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: GOVERNMENT DENIES REPORTS OF SMALLPOX
Classified By: Poloff Steven Prohaska for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (SBU) Uzbekistan's Ministry of Health has denied reports
that two cases of hemorrhagic smallpox originating from
Karakalpakstan have appeared in Tashkent. (Note: These claims
have surfaced in the Russian press and the internet website
www.centrasia.ru. End note.) Chief Public Health Officer and
Deputy Health Minister Bakhtiyer Niyazmatov said that
Vozrozhdenia Island in the Aral Sea is "under the control of
the appropriate ministries and agencies... as far as we know,
there are no smallpox agents left there."
2. (C) Given the Government of Uzbekistan's track record of
denying both the occurrence of measles outbreaks in the
country as well as recent instances of HIV transmission in
Andijon hospitals, and Niyazmatov's habit of stonewalling
against inquiries about such topics, we are not convinced
that Uzbekistan would tell us even if there was a smallpox
problem. This notwithstanding, our locally-employed staff
member who monitors the news feels that the whole exchange
has the look and feel of Russian provocation in response to
cooling relations. At this point, we are not aware of any
verifiable evidence of smallpox in Uzbekistan but are
monitoring this closely, in conjunction with officials from
CDC and other U.S. agencies with offices here.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2018
TAGS: TBIO PGOV UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: GOVERNMENT DENIES REPORTS OF SMALLPOX
Classified By: Poloff Steven Prohaska for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (SBU) Uzbekistan's Ministry of Health has denied reports
that two cases of hemorrhagic smallpox originating from
Karakalpakstan have appeared in Tashkent. (Note: These claims
have surfaced in the Russian press and the internet website
www.centrasia.ru. End note.) Chief Public Health Officer and
Deputy Health Minister Bakhtiyer Niyazmatov said that
Vozrozhdenia Island in the Aral Sea is "under the control of
the appropriate ministries and agencies... as far as we know,
there are no smallpox agents left there."
2. (C) Given the Government of Uzbekistan's track record of
denying both the occurrence of measles outbreaks in the
country as well as recent instances of HIV transmission in
Andijon hospitals, and Niyazmatov's habit of stonewalling
against inquiries about such topics, we are not convinced
that Uzbekistan would tell us even if there was a smallpox
problem. This notwithstanding, our locally-employed staff
member who monitors the news feels that the whole exchange
has the look and feel of Russian provocation in response to
cooling relations. At this point, we are not aware of any
verifiable evidence of smallpox in Uzbekistan but are
monitoring this closely, in conjunction with officials from
CDC and other U.S. agencies with offices here.
NORLAND