This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ATHENS 000386 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AMBASSADOR POWELL 
STATE FOR EUR/OES CONNORS 
ROME FOR AGRI WIGGINS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON GR AVIANFLU
SUBJECT: POTENTIAL H5N1 DETECTED IN GREECE, AWAITING 
CONFIRMATION OF RESULTS FROM UK. 
 
REF: A. 2005 ATHENS 2715 
 
     ¶B. 2005 ATHENS 2748 
 
¶1.  (U) This is a joint Thessaloniki-Athens telegram. 
 
¶2.  (U) Summary: Three migratory swans in the greater 
Thessaloniki area have tested positive for the H5 virus. 
Samples have been sent to the Community Reference Laboratory 
in Weybridge, UK to test for the presence of any H5N1 strain. 
 Results are expected in 2-8 days. The district Governor has 
established a six-mile buffer zone and two-mile surveillance 
zones in the areas where the birds were found.  The reports 
of H5 virus have created great concern in the Thessaloniki 
area, both because of the health impact and because of the 
potential impact on the Greek poultry industry. In contrast, 
Post is encouraged by the speed and competency with which the 
GoG is handling this situation in comparison to the earlier 
incidents reported (reftels).  We will continue to stay in 
close contact with the GoG as this investigation continues. 
End Summary. 
 
¶3.  (U) Three migratory swans were collected by fishermen and 
ornithologists in coastal areas near Thessaloniki 10 days 
ago, and have preliminarily tested positive for H5 virus.  Of 
the three, one swan was found alive, but in bad condition, in 
an outlying suburb 20 km east of Thessaloniki; a second was 
found dead in the small village of Stavros at the crossroads 
of the national highway to Kavala, and a third dead swan was 
collected on the Katerini coast near Mt. Olympus.  All three 
were tested at the Virology Laboratory in Thessaloniki.  In 
the past week this lab has tested 124 birds, including 52 
swans, and all but these three samples were negative.  A 
total of 3,500 birds have been tested in the last six months. 
 Since the beginning of February, 16 dead swans had been 
found in the Thermaicos Gulf which encompasses the greater 
Thessaloniki area. 
 
¶4.    (U) Despite these measures, locals in the area are 
panicked.  Thessaloniki Vice-Regional Governor Vikos, 
debunking press reports of a "quarantine" of these areas, has 
set up a two-mile surveillance and six-mile buffer zone 
around each site where an infected swan was found. 
Domesticated birds in these areas must be kept indoors and 
are subject to frequent veterinary inspections; structures 
have also been disinfected.  The Ministry of Agriculture 
called upon local authorities to intensify checks of poultry 
farms.  Veterinarians and Ministry of Health officials are 
inspecting for the proper implementation of EU bio-security 
regulations on poultry farms and the local population.  The 
immediate vicinity where the birds were found was 
disinfected, and the fishermen and ornithologists who had 
contact with the dead birds are under medical supervision for 
10 days.  Hunting in the Thessaloniki and Katerini (Pieria) 
prefectures has also been prohibited. 
 
¶5.  (U) Comment: Post believes that the Ministry of 
Agriculture is taking appropriate measures to reduce the 
threat of a potential outbreak of Avian Influenza.  The speed 
and coordination with which the GoG is reacting, in contrast 
to the events of last year, highlight the increased 
competence the relevant authorities are bringing to this 
investigation.  If H5N1 is detected in the dead swans, it 
will point to the success of the early detection system put 
into place by the GoG.  It is also important to note that to 
date, there have been no confirmed human contractions or 
deaths from H5N1. 
 
¶6. (U) Due to adverse weather conditions during the last two 
weeks, there has been a massive swan migration from north to 
south, which, combined with the freezing of inland lakes in 
northern Greece, has driven the birds toward the heavily 
populated Aegean coast. So far, no cases of the H5 virus have 
been found in the Evros River area along the Turkish border. 
Of concern, however, is the recent announcement of confirmed 
Avian Influenza in Nigeria. Northern migration of African 
birds to Greece and other Mediterranean countries will begin 
in mid-March, thus providing another avenue for the 
penetration of H5N1 into mainland Europe.  Athens and 
Thessaloniki will remain vigilant and will report additional 
information on this issue as available. 
RIES