US embassy cable - 05BRATISLAVA865

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000865 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO, EAGR, SOCI, KSCA, LO, WHO, FAO, OIE 
SUBJECT: SLOVAKS PURSUING AVIAN INFLUENZA AND PANDEMIC 
PROTECTION 
 
Sensitive But Unclassified - handle accordingly 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary.  Officials from the GOS appear to be 
making good progress on contingency plannnig for an outbreak 
of avian influenza (AI) as well as the possibility of a 
human-to-human pandemic disease.  Ministry of Health State 
Secretary Alexandra Novotna (also Deputy Health Minister and 
 
SIPDIS 
a medical doctor) explained to DCM, Econoff, and Post Medical 
Officer that Slovakia has updated its "framework" national 
action plan, which should be discussed and approved by the 
Slovak cabinet on October 26.  The Ministry also has a 
specific plan that details exactly what should be done in 
terms of protecting bird populations and promoting awareness 
among those working with birds, who should do it, and how it 
should be accomplished.  Novotna also stressed that the plan 
includes elements of public education, simulation exercises 
and that it is highly adaptable to changing circumstances. 
End Summary. 
 
AVIAN INFLUENZA 
--------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) The GOS is working with its 2,000 poultry workers, 
veterinary staffs, and medical providers to ensure that they 
are aware of the risks and procedures that will mitigate the 
danger.  Poultry workers have been encouraged to get a 
seasonal influenza injection and a leaflet has been drafted 
explaining the difference between normal and avian influenza. 
 Though Novotna did not specify the size of Slovakia's 
Tamiflu inventories, she did claim that it had enough to 
treat at risk workers should the need arise.  The State 
Veterinary and Food Administration has also implemented 
specific new rules that prohibit live birds in markets, 
competitions, and veterinary organizations as well as carrier 
pigeon competitions (inside Slovakia and Slovak participation 
internationally) and the hunting of wild birds. 
 
PANDEMIC POTENTIAL 
------------------ 
 
3.  (SBU) According to Novotna, the GOS is concentrating its 
efforts on preparations for a human pandemic disease.  The 
ministry is arranging crisis management exercises that will 
simulate an outbreak in the human population.  Kramare 
hospital in Bratislava has a section dedicated to isolating 
highly contagious individuals.  There is also a lab in Zvolen 
(central Slovakia) that can quickly isolate sub-types of AI 
as they develop (all samples would also be sent to the EU 
coordinating lab in the UK).  The ministry is preparing an 
assessment of its medical protective gear and proposing 
financing to cover any deficiencies.  Finally, the GOS has 
contracts with pharmaceutical companies which require them to 
provide vaccinations and anti-virals that are created once a 
sub-type is identified.  (Comment: it is still not certain 
how much of any new drug Slovakia would actually receive or 
what priority the country has with pharmaceutical companies 
as opposed to others with similar contracts.  End Comment.) 
 
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION 
---------------------------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) The ministry is moving cautiously with its public 
announcements.  It has prepared booklets which explain the 
risks of AI and the threat to humans but it is concerned that 
releasing the information may cause undue alarm even though 
the human risk is low.  When the Minister of Health recently 
announced on television that prevention begins with frequent 
handwashing and general good nutrition, it resulted in 
reports of hoarding seasonal influenza vaccinations (though 
pharmacies have reported to Novotna that their supplies are 
still adequate).  The ministry will, nevertheless release a 
leaflet to veterinarians that explains what to look for and 
to whom to report any suspicious occurrences.  The GOS is 
also in contact with its Embassies in the region and in 
particular with locations with confirmed cases of AI. 
Communication among EU nations has also been good, according 
to Novotna, especially in the sharing of other member state's 
best practices. 
 
5.  (SBU) Comment.  Emboffs emphasized the importance of 
transparency and communication to ensure that occurrences 
were properly tracked and dealt with, both locally and 
globally.  This seemed particularly important after the 
Ministries of Agriculture and State Veterinary and Food 
Administration directed us to the Ministry of Health for 
comment and Novotna began the discussion by asking whether we 
checked with the aforementioned organizations.  Nevertheless, 
Novotna was very knowledgeable and spoke openly about the 
realities of Slovakia's readiness for AI. 
 
VALLEE 
 
 
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