US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN1562

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001562 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO, ECON, PREL, SOCI, GA, AM, KSTH, WHO, RU, AZ 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GOAM ADDRESSING THE THREAT OF 
AVIAN FLU 
 
REF: STATE 153802 
 
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
2. (SBU) On August 23, Ambassador delivered reftel points to 
Haik Melik Darbinyan, First Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. 
Vladimir Davidiants, Chief of Public Health and Sanitation, 
and Liana Torosyan, Ministry of Health Coordinator of 
Influenza Response.  Davidiants was introduced as the GOAM's 
primary point of contact for avian flu.  According to 
Darbinyan, the Ministries of Health and Agriculture are 
drafting a National Flu Preparedness Plan that will be 
submitted for inter-ministerial review by September 1.  The 
plan details preventative measures, vaccination protocols and 
appropriate responses to an outbreak.  Darbinyan requested 
that a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) expert review the 
draft plan once it is complete. 
 
3. (SBU) Darbinyan told us the GOAM receives monthly updates 
from the governments of Iran, Georgia and Russia concerning 
the avian flu threat and is working closely with the CDC and 
the World Health Organization.  According to Darbinyan, the 
GOAM and Azerbaijan have agreed to work together in the event 
of a public health emergency.  On August 2, the Ministry of 
Agriculture announced a ban on Russian poultry in response to 
the avian flu threat. 
 
4.  (SBU) Comment:  The GOAM is well aware of the threat 
posed by avian influenza and is taking steps to ensure that 
proper preventative measures are in place and that there will 
be an appropriate response should an outbreak occur.  The 
GOAM is working closely with neighboring countries and 
international organizations.  CDC epidemiologist Scott McNabb 
plans to visit Yerevan in late September as part of a program 
to combat tuberculosis.  Post suggests that the CDC extend 
his mission to include a review of the GOAM's Flu 
Preparedness Plan. 
EVANS