Cablegate: Turkey: New Avian Influenza Outbreak

VZCZCXRO9629
RR RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
DE RUEHAK #0202 0360922
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050922Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5123
INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 1689
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 6699
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 2667
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3835
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1579
RUEHZN/EST COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ANKARA 000202

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR STUDZINSKI AND LANGE
USAID FOR TROSTLE, BLANCHET AND CARROLL
HHS FOR WSTEIGER/PBUDASHEWITZ
FAS FOR OCRA; OSTA
FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS
VIENNA FOR APHIS
BRUSSELS FOR APHIS/FERNANDEZ
GENEVA FOR HEALTH ATTACHE
ROME FOR US MISSION TO FAO

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KFLU ETRD EAGR KPAO TBIO AMED CASC EAID SENV TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: NEW AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK

REF: ANKARA 147 AND PREVIOUS

1. The Ministry of Agriculture announced on February 4th, that there
is a new outbreak of Avian Influenza in the country. This outbreak
is in Samsun province on the Black Sea, about 400 Kilometers east of
Zonguldak, where the last outbreak occurred.

2. On January 28, Ministry officials were informed about a possible
case of Avian Influenza (AI) in dead backyard poultry in the 19 May
District of Samsun Province. Ministry provincial officials went to
the location, started quarantine measures, and took samples from the
suspicious birds on the same day. The initial laboratory tests
results confirmed that the birds were infected with AI.

3. The infected area is situated near a wetland area and the
backyard poultry live in close contact with wild birds. The source
of disease is most probably the wild water birds.

4. A total of 37 backyard poultry owned by eight families in the
village, were culled as a precautionary measure in the area on the
first day. The Ministry stated that it has taken all other
necessary measures. Surveillance and quarantine measures in the
area are continuing.

5. It is not yet clear if this is H5N1 strain of the AI virus.

6. Comment: At this point, everything seems to be under control.
However, Embassy Ag office is concerned of possible economic effects
if more cases develop and they are in Western Turkey close to the
commercial poultry operations. Currently, the two outbreaks have
only affected a small number of birds and have been in villages far
from commercial facilities.

Wilson

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