MONGOLIAN AVIAN FLU UPDATE NOVEMBER 2008

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000526 USDA FOR FAS/DLP, FAS/ITP, FAS/ICD STATE FOR EAP/CM, OES/IHA, AND CA/OCS STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID, ATTN DWINSTON, ANE/EA BANGKOK FOR USAID FOR RDM/A E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO CASC EAID PGOV SENV KFLU MG SUBJECT: MONGOLIAN AVIAN FLU UPDATE NOVEMBER 2008 REF: ULAANBAATAR 268 ¶1. November often marks the beginning of a four-month period where H5N1 outbreaks are concentrated in many countries, but in Mongolia migration due to the cold weather actually makes these months somewhat passive. ¶2. Update on WCS Field Veterinary Program -- Avian Influenza: In FY 08, intensive capture efforts and mortality surveys resulted in the collection of samples from 1,377 water birds. In October, these samples were exported to the United States and Hong Kong for laboratory testing supported through the National Institutes of Health's Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research (CEIR) program. Testing of samples collected during the 2008 field season continued in November. Results will be shared with USAID mission staff and government partners as soon as they are received. ¶3. The first resighting of Bean Geese tagged in Mongolia was reported from East Dongting Hu, China in November. Specifically, the resighted Bean Geese were P81 (a female) and P82 (a male). Both were caught together on Sangiyn Dalai Nuur, Hovsgol aimag on July 2, 2008 (approx. N: 49.26023, E: 99.0688). Swan Geese collared in Mongolia were also resighted in Poyang Lake, China. A whooper Swan, which was originally banded in Darkhad this past summer, was also recently sighted in China. MINTON