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