US embassy cable - 05LJUBLJANA807

UNCLAS  LJUBLJANA 000807 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, 
DEPT FOR OES/DANIEL SINGER AND REBECCA DALEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO, SENV, ECON, EAGR, EAID, PREL, SI 
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA ON CONTROLLING AVIAN FLU 
 
REF: (A) STATE 209622 
 
(B) LJUBLJANA 0757 
(C) LJUBLJANA 0652 
(D) LJUBLJANA 0614 
 
1. (U) Summary:  On 21 November, Econoff and Econ 
Assistant met with Simona Salamon, Deputy Chief 
Veterinary Officer at the Slovene Veterinary 
Administration, to discuss Slovenia's efforts to control 
avian flu.  Salamon has the lead in the GOS for all avian 
flu related matters.  Following is a summary of the 
measures that the GOS has undertaken to increase 
Slovenia's preparedness.  (Note: The Veterinary 
Administration has overall responsibility in Slovenia for 
avian flu, but Salamon was only able to address ref A 
animal-related questions.  The Slovene Ministry of Health 
manages avian flu concerns related to human health.  Due 
to an avian flu outbreak simulation currently being 
conducted, however, Slovene Health Ministry officials 
were unavailable to meet with Econoff this week and, 
therefore, ref A questions addressing human health will 
be answered septel.)  End summary. 
 
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PREPAREDNESS/COMMUNICATION 
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2. (U) As reported ref B, as one of the prerequisites for 
EU accession, in 2004 Slovenia prepared a detailed action 
plan to address a possible avian flu outbreak.  In 
October 2005, the plan was reviewed by the EU Commission 
and updated by the Slovenian Veterinary Administration. 
The plan offers precise, step-by-step instructions for 
government institutions on how to handle an outbreak of 
avian flu.  The Veterinary Administration has posted this 
action plan on its website 
(http://www.sigov.si/vurs/ai.php) along with other useful 
information on avian influenza for the general public. 
 
3. (U) Post notes that the GOS has been very forthcoming 
with information on avian flu.  Open and frank 
discussions with GOS interlocutors in recent months lead 
Post to believe that, in the event of an outbreak, the 
GOS would do everything in its power to inform the 
public.  There was widespread coverage and extensive 
information provided by the government in a suspected 
case of bird flu in October.  Moreover, according to 
Salamon, one of the highest priorities of the GOS is 
ensuring its preparedness for any potential outbreak. 
Salamon noted that her job content of late is "all bird 
flu, all the time" and that her senior management is 
closely engaged with all activities. 
 
4. (U) According to Salamon, Slovenia has worked very 
closely with the EU on bird flu issues prior to and since 
its accession.  As a member state, Slovenia's legal 
structure as it relates to bird flu is harmonized with 
the EU.  In addition to working with the EU on 
containment and response issues, Slovenia also cooperates 
closely with its neighbors, particularly Croatia, where 
cases of bird flu were recently confirmed.  (Note: Since 
the confirmation of bird flu, poultry imports from 
Croatia have been banned.  End note.)  In addition, the 
Veterinary Administration cooperates very closely with 
the Ministry of Health's Public Health Section as well as 
with the police, fire brigade, and civil 
protection/disaster relief agency. 
 
5. (U) As in other countries, the media report regularly 
on suspected avian flu cases in nearby countries as well 
as the Slovene responses to them.  Media outlets have 
also carried reports discussing the possibility of 
similar occurrences in Slovenia.  Brochures prepared by 
public health officials with information regarding avian 
flu have been distributed widely in health and other 
public institutions throughout urban and rural Slovenia. 
At the main international airport near the capital, 
posters with avian flu information have been placed 
throughout the building explaining to tourists how to 
lower the risk of infection and transmission of the 
virus. 
 
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SURVEILLANCE/DETECTION 
---------------------- 
6. (U) Slovenia's Veterinary Administration, according to 
Salamon, is very capable of identifying any new strain of 
influenza in the animal population.  Salamon noted that 
the Administration has recently received positive reviews 
of its capabilities from both the EU and the USDA. 
Salamon told Econoff that the Slovene National Veterinary 
Institute performs all of the diagnostics for suspected 
avian flu cases in Slovenia.  She said the Institute is 
 
well equipped to do all necessary testing and that tests 
are completed within 72 hours.  Salamon further said 
that, following tests in Slovenia, any suspected avian 
flu cases are then sent to the EU reference laboratory in 
Weybridge, U.K.  Based on Post's discussions with the 
Veterinary Administration, it does not appear that 
Slovenia needs or seeks any assistance in bird flu 
subtyping from international or U.S.-based organizations. 
 
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RESPONSE/CONTAINMENT 
-------------------- 
7. (U) To the best of Post's knowledge, in the event of 
an outbreak of avian flu, the GOS is prepared to respond 
rapidly and take all necessary means to control spread of 
the disease.  The aforementioned action plan spells out 
all the necessary guidelines to contain the spread of the 
disease through culling, disinfection, and limitations on 
animal movement.  In addition, as reported ref B, the GOS 
has banned certain imports.  Currently, imports of 
poultry (including eggs, feather products, and stuffed 
birds) and other birds are prohibited from the following 
countries: Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Laos, China 
and Hong Kong, Malaysia, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, North 
Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and Croatia. 
 
8. (U) On 14 October, Health Minister Andrej Brucan 
announced that Slovenia is preparing a stockpile of the 
anti-viral drug Tamiflu.  Brucan said the Ministry would 
purchase sufficient stock to supply approximately one 
quarter of the population or roughly 500,000 doses.  The 
Ministry expects to receive the drug in two separate 
consignments beginning in early 2006. 
 
ROBERTSON 
 
 
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