Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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08ULAANBAATAR246 | 2008-05-28 00:58:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Ulaanbaatar |
VZCZCXRO4453 RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHUM #0246/01 1490058 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 280058Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2200 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6187 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0048 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0123 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0081 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0085 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3387 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 1771 RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 1825 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3062 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2279 RUEHVK/AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 0297 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC |
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000246 |
1. SUMMARY: Leading American and Mongolian authorities on infectious diseases gathered in Ulaanbaatar on May 15 and 16 to take part in an international symposium on Emerging Infectious Diseases. Twenty-six scientists made presentations at the symposium, which was facilitated by Post and which attracted experts from the fields of medicine, veterinary science, public health, epidemiology and environmental health. The symposium succeeded in promoting networking between American and Mongolian specialists in these fields, bridging gaps between experts from the various fields who often work in relative isolation. The participants were selected by two doctors with extensive expertise: Greg Gray, Director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health; and N. Khurelbaatar, Deputy Director of Mongolia's National Center for Communicable Diseases. Participants shared information on the emergence of new infectious diseases, such as Avian Influenza, and focused on diseases that can pass between humans and animals -- particularly important for Mongolia, with its population of 40 million livestock. In recent years, Mongolia has registered several new infectious diseases within its borders, but an improving economy is helping to decrease overall infection rates. END SUMMARY. 2. Doctors, vets, epidemiologists, experts on environmental health and others international leaders in the field of infectious diseases converged on Ulaanbaatar on May 15 and 16, taking part in an International Symposium on Emerging Infectious Diseases.. The participants exchanged information on a wide range of illnesses and their pathogens-- avian influenza, arboviruses and viral hemorrhagic fevers, which include dengue, chikunya, Rift Valley fever, West Nile, yellow fever, Ebola and Marburg. Also discussed were cholera, meningococcoal meningitis, v-CJD, antibiotic-resistant M. tuberculosis, S. aureus.influenza, hepatitis, rabies, brucellosis, and HIV. Twenty-six scientists from the US and Mongolia made presentation at the symposium. The American participants, who funded their own travel and expenses, also toured local hospitals and academic institutions, thanks to arrangements made by their Mongolian counterparts. INFECTION RATES FALLING, BUT NEW DISEASES ON THE RISE -------------------------- -------------------------- 3. The incidence rates of registered human infectious diseases in Mongolia have changed dramatically since the country started keeping records in 1952. This is due primarily to economic and social improvements, as well as the introduction of effective vaccination programs. Today, Mongolia registers some 40 human infectious diseases, including the following 12 nosological forms first registered within the last 20 years: rubella (1987), HIV/AIDS(1987), hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (1997), trichomoniasis (1998), neonatal sepsis (2001), mycosis (2001), acute diarrhea (2001), SARS (2003), tick-borne encephalitis (2003), tick-borne borreliosis (2003), tick-borne rickettsiosis (2005), and erythema infectiosa (2005). The last decade has also witnessed a re-emergence of some "old" human infectious diseases, such as gonococcal infections, chickenpox, tuberculosis and food-borne intoxications. Officially unregistered infections, such as Helicobacter pylori, are also growing in number.MONITORING AND PREVENTION -------------------------- 4. High on the agenda at the symposium was monitoring and prevention of transmission from animals to humans. Of 335 new infectious diseases registered over the last 60 years worldwide, 60% are zoonotic, meaning they can pass from animals to humans. 54% of emerging infectious diseases are microbe-based, most of which are drug resistant. Mongolia, with nearly 40 million livestock and numerous wild animals, is particularly vulnerable and needs to expand its research on zoonotic infections and bring in new diagnostic technologies and equipment. Although Mongolia is remote ULAANBAATA 00000246 002.2 OF 002 and relatively isolated, the SARS outbreak demonstrated that a highly pathogenic infectious disease in a remote region of the globe can spread around the world in a matter of days or weeks. 5. Dr. Gray pointed out that epidemiological studies show considerable evidence that swine workers, poultry workers, hunters, and veterinarians have received zoonotic influenza A virus infections. While the data suggest that the majority of these infections were mild or sub-clinical, available data suggest that agriculture workers may contribute to a generation of novel viruses, and serve as a bridging population for influenza viruses spread between animals and man. Mathematical modeling has demonstrated that such workers may accelerate the spread of pandemic viruses. The most common animal infectious diseases in Mongolia include foot and mouth disease (FMD), brucellosis, anthrax, rabies, hemorrhagic septicemia, equine infectious anemia (EIA), glanders and mycoplasmosis. INCREASING US-MONGOLIAN COLLABORATION -------------------------- 6. A major achievement of the symposium was the networking between the Mongolian and American scientists with ongoing plans to collaborate on future projects. Plans are underway to hold another symposium in 2009 to help foster the new international relationships in the fight against infectious disease. 7. The symposium was organized by Dr. Khurelbaatar, Deputy Director of the National Center for Communicable Diseases, and Dr. Gregory Gray, Director, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Professor at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Financial support for the symposium was provided by the World Health Organization. Among those who addressed the gathering were Mongolia's Vice Health Minister, Dr. Tsolmon, and WHO Representative Robert Hagan. The Charge hosted a reception for the organizers and participants. The symposium coincided with an outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease and the Mongolian Government's response to a possible Enterovirus 71 (EV71) outbreak. The local press published the Embassy's press release on the symposium. MINTON |