TURKMENISTAN'S SAFEGUARDS AGAINST A/H1N1 VIRUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000580 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KFLU TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S SAFEGUARDS AGAINST A/H1N1 VIRUS REF: ASHGABAT 0569 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a televised May 1 Cabinet meeting, President Berdimuhamedov ordered subordinates to undertake a range of preventive measures in an effort to block the arrival of the H1N1 flu virus in Turkmenistan. The Ministry of Health was tasked with disseminating public information through the media on how to prevent the spread of the virus. Between May 5 and 7, the Neytralniy Turkmenistan published a series of articles that described Turkmenistan's efforts to safeguard against the A/H1N1 virus. The articles described the government's strategic plan to prevent the spread of the virus, which included sanitary and epidemiological measures at the Ashgabat International Airport and Turkmenbashi sea port, virus testing at the national virology laboratory, veterinary preventive efforts, new restrictions on the import and sale of pork, training courses for health professionals, and the dissemination of public information. The restrictions on the import of pork, officials claim, is based on WHO guidelines, which is untrue as the UN has said there is no need for anti-pork trade measures. The Ministry of Health has claimed that not a single case of the flu has been identified so far and has also expressed confidence that it can block the flu's spread to Turkmenistan. END SUMMARY. PREVENTIVE MEASURES AT THE ASHGABAT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ¶3. (U) On May 5, an article appeared in the paper entitled "How the Air Gates are Protected from the New Virus." It informed readers about new preventive measures that have been established at the Ashgabat International Airport. Authorities are now using a special thermal scan device that measures the body temperatures of arriving international passengers. Airport officials are authorized to detain and isolate passengers with high temperatures Officials are also regularly disinfecting airport facilities and training airport personnel on emergency medical response procedures. ¶4. (U) The article claimed that the use of advanced technology and the capacity of airport medical personnel provided a strong and reliable barrier against the flu entering Turkmenistan. Turkmen Airlines crews have also reportedly received special training on the handling and isolation of passengers who demonstrate flu symptoms. Turkmen aircraft are being disinfected as well. The week of May 4, post's travel clerk said the Ministry of Health had begun sending doctors to all Ashgabat hotels to evaluate the guests. MARITIME SANITARY CORDON ¶5. (U) The article from May 6 informed readers about the preventive measures taken by the sanitary inspection officials at the Turkmenbashy sea port, which includes disinfection of ships before they enter the port, disinfection of a ship's equipment and cargo, review of ship's sanitary declaration, and temperature checks of passengers and crew members. If a passenger has a high temperature, he/she is quarantined. If a sick person is a member of the crew, then the entire crew will be isolated in special rooms and given medical check-ups. In addition, the ship is quarantined. When the inspection of the anchored ship is completed, the inspectors authorize its entry into the port. The main flow of passengers enters the city on railroad ferries. Passengers undergo quarantine control at the ferry terminal. The port sanitary inspectors use thermo-scanner, which immediately registers elevated body temperatures and sends the information to the computer installed in the medical unit of the sea port. Medical units at the airport and sea port have "hot line" telephone connections with the State Sanitary and Epidemiology Service of the MOHMI. According to Juma Kuliyev, head of the port sanitary and quarantine department, the number of passengers at the sea port, compared with the Ashgabat International Airport, is small because the port mainly processes technical cargo. "But we do everything to ensure that the port's sanitary cordon protects the "maritime gates" of the country from the virus," Kuliyev said in an interview. ASHGABAT 00000580 002 OF 002 THE NATIONAL VIROLOGY LABORATORY ¶6. (U) The May 7 press article reported on the work of the national virology laboratory which is able to diagnose all types of viruses by using special equipment, which Turkmenistan purchased at during the most recent Avian Influenza pandemic. The laboratory is certified by the World Health Organization every year. According to Galina Muradova, a virology doctor from the laboratory, laboratory specialists immediately go to a sick person to collect sample materials for analyses to be delivered to the laboratory in hermetically packed containers. The materials then are analyzed. The most reliable method of analysis is the polymerase chain reaction test (PCR). In the article, Doctor Muradova said that shortly the laboratory will receive new equipment for virus tests, which will enable them to improve the accuracy of the test results. (NOTE: The photo shows equipment with a "CDC-USAID" label. The article did not make any reference to USAID. END NOTE.) According to Dr. Amannepesov, Deputy Minister of Health, special laboratory diagnostic kits from Russian vendors are available in the laboratory. The MOHMI secured a large amount of Tamiflu for local polyclinics. Tamiflu also is available in drug stores. Pol/Econ local staff confirmed that a local drug store offered Tamiflu at the price of 19.80 manat or around $7 per pack. VETERINARY SAFEGUARDS ¶7. (U) The article also said that the Veterinary Service had registered all pigs in the country, and veterinary specialists conduct daily surveillance of each animal. Pig breeders received special sanitary requirements regarding pig farms. ECONOMIC STEPS ¶8. (U) For safety measures, as of May 1 the government introduced a temporary ban for importing pork from countries infected with A/H1N1 virus. Also, the government has introduced a temporary restriction on selling pork in all local food markets. INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT ¶9. (U) The May 4 paper published an interview given by the Director of the MOHMI Information Center, Rejepmurad Geldiyev, who in detail, explained what were the symptoms of the virus, how people can get infected and what preventive measures need to be taken. Mr. Geldiyev concluded his interview by stating that Turkmenistan did not have a single case of the virus registered so far. All sanitary and epidemiological services work in close coordination with WHO and other international organizations engaged in this problem, by receiving updated information on the virus, which is immediately distributed among health specialists. The article said that MOHMI developed a series of TV programs on the virus and published booklets, available at airports, hotels, clinics, and schools, which explained in detail how to protect oneself from the virus. ¶10. (SBU) COMMENT: Turkmen officials claim that their decision to ban the importation of pork products is based on WHO guidelines. However, the UN has stated that there is no reason for anti-pork trade measures. One cannot get H1N1 from a piece of meat. Officials must want to calm either their or the public's irrational concerns. END COMMENT. MILES