US embassy cable - 05SOFIA1767

UNCLAS SOFIA 001767 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, SCOTT BRANDON AND S/BFLU, C. LITTLE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO, ECON, PREL, SOCI, BG, KSTH, WHO, Avian Flu 
SUBJECT: BULGARIA SCRAMBLES TO RESPOND TO NEARBY THREAT OF 
AVIAN FLU 
 
1.  (SBU) Bulgarian authorities are intensifying efforts to 
respond to a possible outbreak of avian flu in Bulgaria 
after several cases of bird flu were confirmed in 
neighboring Romania and Turkey over the weekend.  So far no 
cases of avian flu have been discovered in Bulgaria. 
Officials from the National Veterinary Service (NVS), 
however, are testing three birds found dead in the northern 
town of Pleven for the virus, but do not expect to have 
conclusive results until next week.  The media has made 
avian flu a top story and is helping to fuel the public's 
concern with attention-grapping headlines describing 
infected birds as poised to bombard the country. 
 
2.  (U) In response to recent cases of avian flu in Romania 
and Turkey, the Agricultural Ministry has banned the import 
of poultry, eggs, and wild fowl from both countries. 
Although poultry imports from Romania have been 
traditionally small, Bulgaria has imported at least one 
million live birds from Turkey for consumption since the 
beginning of this year and three million eggs to raise live 
birds.  The Agriculture Ministry also has banned the hunting 
of most wild fowl.  In addition, Bulgaria is stepping up 
efforts to monitor the passage of wild fowl along the Danube 
River and the Black Sea.  Vehicles traveling from Turkey and 
Romania are being disinfected as they enter Bulgaria.  NVS 
has enhanced its public awareness program by printing 
instructions for farmers on how to respond to avian flu and 
encouraging the local population, particularly in the four 
regions at risk along the Danube and Black Sea, to report 
any suspicious symptoms or the death of birds.  The EU's 
Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner, who was on a 
two day visit to Sofia, stated that Bulgaria's measures to 
prevent the spread of avian flu are in line with EU 
standards. 
 
3.  (U) Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is pressing the 
government to quickly approve a Pandemic Action Plan, which 
the Ministry approved on 7 October.  The plan would earmark 
3.7 million leva (2.3 million USD) for the purchase of 
antiviral measures, vaccines, diagnostic lab equipment, and 
efforts to enhance monitoring and information exchange about 
flu incidences.  Before the plan can be approved by the 
Council of Ministers, however, it must be coordinated with a 
number of other authorities, which may take until the end of 
October.  With little time to waste, Angal Kunchev, Chief of 
MOH's Department for Infectious Disease Control, is urging 
the government to launch the plan immediately. 
 
BEYRLE