US embassy cable - 05ROME2979

UNCLAS  ROME 002979 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR IO/EDA, NEA/ENA, EA/SEA, OES/IHA 
USAID FOR DCHA, OFDA GGOTTLIEB, PMORRIS, AND GH/DCARROLL 
USDA FOR OSEC STUMP/PENN/BUTLER/LAMBERT, FAS 
PETTRIE/HUGHES/CLERKIN, APHIS CLIFFORD/DUVERNOY 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH/USAID 
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER 
USEUCOM FOR ECJ4 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, EAID, ECON, SENV, SOCI, TBIO, TSPL, XB, XC, XD, XE, UN, FAO, OIE, WHO 
SUBJECT: FAO EMERGENCY PROGRAMS: AVIAN INFLUENZA AND THE RISK 
OF EXPANSION 
 
REF: (A) ROME 1142; (B) ROME 0877; (C) STATE 153802 
 
1. Summary.  With the potential risk that the Avian Influenza 
(AI) deadly sub-virus H5N1 may be transported via the 
migratory flyways of wild water fowl from South Asia to the 
Middle East and Europe, the activities of the United Nations 
(UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to stamp out AI 
are receiving much needed attention.  On September 2, FAO 
Director General Jacques Diouf chaired a briefing on the risk 
of AI expansion and preventive measures FAO is taking, and 
took the opportunity to launch an emergency appeal for $25 
million to build surveillance capacity and research on 
wildlife. Earlier that week, USUN Rome staff accompanied 
USAID/Global Health's Dr. Dennis Carroll to a meeting with FAO 
Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division (TCE) and 
Animal Production and Health Division (AGAD) staff to fine- 
tune an FAO proposal to strengthen early warning and early 
reaction to Avian Influenza outbreaks in Cambodia, Indonesia, 
Lao PDR, PR China and Viet Nam.  USUN Rome has been covering 
FAO's AI activities and will continue to widely disseminate 
discussions with FAO.  End Summary 
 
2. Background: FAO and its collaborating partners, the World 
Health Organization (WHO) and Office International des 
Epizooties (OIE, or World Organization for Animal Health), 
have been actively involved in a campaign to contain and stamp 
out Avian Influenza (AI) in Asia.  The three agencies took 
collaborative, immediate action since the outbreaks first 
occurred in late 2003/early 2004.  Among their many efforts, 
joint guidelines and recommendations were issued on the 
control of AI, and a global framework was launched [FAO/OIE 
Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Trans-boundary 
Animal Diseases (GF-TADs)]. 
 
3. Diouf stated that AI is becoming more a matter of concern 
to nations around the globe as the threat of imminent spread 
reaches the doorsteps of Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, 
Central Asia and Africa via the complex overlapping of major 
migratory bird flyways.  The international focus has largely 
been on the human side, but Diouf emphasized that up to now, 
it has been an animal disease and, therefore, must be stopped 
at the source.  Diouf noted that WHO has been successful in 
garnering "100 percent support" from nations to purchase 
preventive equipment on the human health side, but the need 
now is for nations to refocus their attention on animals, 
ensuring that policy decisions address AI as a problem of 
animals.  He called upon donors to support FAO activities in 
this endeavor. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
The Role of Wild Birds 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
4. Dr. Joseph Domenech, Chief, FAO Animal Health Service, 
stated that the AI virus has always circulated in wildlife, 
but this year's situation is much more significant in that 
past precursors have changed with the massive deaths of wild 
birds in China.  In addition, AI exposure has spread to 
Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.  Animal health experts are 
 
 
still trying to determine the role wild birds play in the 
spread of the disease. What is certain, however, is that wild 
birds represent a reservoir for AI viruses.  Many of these 
birds are migratory and travel long distances, carrying the 
threat with them as they cross international borders. In 
addition, certain species of ducks carry viruses without 
exhibiting any clinical signs of the disease.  Because many of 
these fowl share common watering sources with poultry in rural 
farms, the interaction of the virus and risks of human 
transmission are high. Because of migratory patterns, it is 
hard to predict which country will be next to report an 
outbreak.  More information can be found on FAO's Web site at: 
http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/ 
subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/special_avi an.html. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
FAO's Current Activities and Emergency Appeal 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
5. FAO committed $5 million of its Technical Cooperation 
Programme (TCP) funds to assist in the build-up of regional 
capacity and surveillance.  It launched three networks to 
improve diagnosis and disease information in 23 countries. 
FAO and OIE continue to work to update international 
notification requirements on poultry and fowl.  A Geneva-based 
OIE expert who was present at the briefing noted the 
difficulties in enforcing the reporting requirements on 
wildlife: wildlife does not yet affect trade, and thus nations 
fail to report problems. 
 
6. FAO took the opportunity with donors to launch an emergency 
response appeal for $25 million, which is in addition to the 
$100 million that FAO will need for its three-year phased 
disease control program.  The emergency fund will cover 
research on and surveying of wildlife; mobilization of the 
OIE/FAO Avian Influenza Network (OFFLU); increased national 
emergency preparedness and laboratory upgrading and regional 
coordination in South Asia, Africa, Middle East, Central Asia 
and Eastern Europe through various regional organizations; 
and, under the OIE/FAO GF-TADs, increased international 
coordination, including the development of the Global Early 
Warning System (GLEWS) to enable better analysis and disease 
intelligence.  The emergency operations funding mechanism is 
being used as nimble way for FAO to launch within 24 hours an 
emergency response in an affected country. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
USAID Support to FAO and USG Global Plan 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
7. On August 31, preliminary discussions with USAID/Global 
Health's Dr. Dennis Carroll and FAO Emergency Operations and 
Rehabilitation Division (TCE) and Animal Production and Health 
Division (AGAD) staff culminated with the fine-tuning of an 
FAO proposal to strengthen early warning and early reaction to 
AI outbreaks in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, People's Republic of 
China and Viet Nam.  Of the $25 million appropriated to USAID 
and HHS/CDC in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act 
for Defense, the Global War on Terror and Tsunami Relief of 
 
 
2005, Dr. Carroll stated that a down payment of $6 million 
will go to FAO as a prime implementing partner for activities 
related to animal heath. 
 
8. Dr. Carroll expounded that, in July 2005, he visited 
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, three of the highest-risk 
countries for H5N1 outbreaks, as part of a USG interagency 
team (USAID, USDA, State and HHS/CDC), to investigate existing 
platforms and determine what has been done nationally and 
regionally to counter the spread of AI.  The team was 
impressed by FAO's strong and demonstrated presence in 
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and its active regional program in 
Bangkok, which will provide an opportunity for the immediate 
role-out and expansion of activities in adherence to the USG's 
global plan to build on existing platforms. 
 
9. Since the $25 million appropriation in June 2005, the USG's 
global plan has been adapted to respond to country specific 
needs.  This revised plan, entitled "U.S. Government Emergency 
Response to Avian Influenza," outlines country specific lines 
of action to be supported by the U.S. over the coming year; 
identifies implementing and technical assistance partners; and 
provides a country-specific budget through September 2006. 
Three key "operating principles" were used in developing these 
country-specific plans: 
 
-- Focus on activities that could contribute immediately to 
the containment of H5N1; 
 
-- Build on already existing platforms and capabilities; and 
 
-- Promote a comprehensive and well-coordinated response 
covering animal and human infection. 
 
10.  USUN Rome will continue to cover and widely disseminate 
information on FAO AI activities. 
 
HALL 
 
 
NNNN 
	2005ROME02979 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED