VZCZCXRO4453
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHUM #0246/01 1490058
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280058Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2200
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6187
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0048
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0123
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0081
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0085
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3387
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 1771
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 1825
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3062
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2279
RUEHVK/AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 0297
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000246 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/GAC, EAP/CM, OES. 
BEIJING FOR USDA, APHIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU PREL AORC EAGR TBIO SOCI PGOV EAIDMG
SUBJECT: ULAANBAATAR HOSTS INT'L SYMPOSIUM ON EMERGING INFECTIOUS 
DISEASES 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000246  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Leading American and Mongolian authorities on infectious 
diseases gathered in Ulaanbaatar on May 15 and 16 to take part in an 
international symposium on Emerging Infectious Diseases.  Twenty-six 
scientists made presentations at the symposium, which was 
facilitated by Post and which attracted experts from the fields of 
medicine, veterinary science, public health, epidemiology and 
environmental health.  The symposium succeeded in promoting 
networking between American and Mongolian specialists in these 
fields, bridging gaps between  experts from the various fields who 
often work in relative isolation.  The participants were selected by 
two doctors with extensive expertise: Greg Gray, Director of the 
Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa's 
College of Public Health; and N. Khurelbaatar,  Deputy Director of 
Mongolia's National Center for Communicable Diseases. 
Participants shared information on the emergence of new infectious 
diseases, such as Avian Influenza, and focused on diseases that can 
pass between humans and animals -- particularly important for 
Mongolia, with its population of 40 million livestock.  In recent 
years, Mongolia has registered several new infectious diseases 
within its borders, but an improving economy is helping to decrease 
overall infection rates.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. Doctors, vets, epidemiologists, experts on environmental health 
and others international leaders in the field of infectious diseases 
converged on Ulaanbaatar on May 15 and 16, taking part in an 
International Symposium on Emerging Infectious Diseases..  The 
participants exchanged information on a wide range of illnesses and 
their pathogens-- avian influenza, arboviruses and viral hemorrhagic 
fevers, which include dengue, chikunya, Rift Valley fever, West 
Nile, yellow fever, Ebola and Marburg.  Also discussed were cholera, 
meningococcoal meningitis, v-CJD, antibiotic-resistant M. 
tuberculosis, S. aureus.influenza, hepatitis, rabies, brucellosis, 
and HIV.  Twenty-six scientists from the US and Mongolia made 
presentation at the symposium.  The American participants, who 
funded their own travel and expenses, also toured local hospitals 
and academic institutions, thanks to arrangements made by their 
Mongolian counterparts. 
 
INFECTION RATES FALLING, BUT NEW DISEASES ON THE RISE 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶3. The incidence rates of registered human infectious diseases in 
Mongolia have changed dramatically since the country started keeping 
records in 1952.  This is due primarily to economic and social 
improvements, as well as the introduction of effective vaccination 
programs.  Today, Mongolia registers some 40 human infectious 
diseases, including the following 12 nosological forms first 
registered within the last 20 years: rubella (1987), HIV/AIDS(1987), 
hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (1997), trichomoniasis (1998), 
neonatal sepsis (2001), mycosis (2001), acute diarrhea (2001), SARS 
(2003), tick-borne encephalitis (2003), tick-borne borreliosis 
(2003), tick-borne rickettsiosis (2005), and erythema infectiosa 
(2005).  The last decade has also witnessed a re-emergence of some 
"old" human infectious diseases, such as gonococcal infections, 
chickenpox, tuberculosis and food-borne intoxications.  Officially 
unregistered infections, such as Helicobacter pylori, are also 
growing in number.MONITORING AND PREVENTION 
------------------------- 
 
¶4. High on the agenda at the symposium was monitoring and prevention 
of transmission from animals to humans.  Of 335 new infectious 
diseases registered over the last 60 years worldwide, 60% are 
zoonotic, meaning they can pass from animals to humans. 54% of 
emerging infectious diseases are microbe-based, most of which are 
drug resistant.  Mongolia, with nearly 40 million livestock and 
numerous wild animals, is particularly vulnerable and needs to 
expand its research on zoonotic infections and bring in new 
diagnostic technologies and equipment.  Although Mongolia is remote 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000246  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
and relatively isolated, the SARS outbreak demonstrated that a 
highly pathogenic infectious disease in a remote region of the globe 
can spread around the world in a matter of days or weeks. 
 
¶5. Dr. Gray pointed out that epidemiological studies show 
considerable evidence that swine workers, poultry workers, hunters, 
and veterinarians have received zoonotic influenza A virus 
infections.  While the data suggest that the majority of these 
infections were mild or sub-clinical, available data suggest that 
agriculture workers may contribute to a generation of novel viruses, 
and serve as a bridging population for influenza viruses spread 
between animals and man.  Mathematical modeling has demonstrated 
that such workers may accelerate the spread of pandemic viruses. 
The most common animal infectious diseases in Mongolia include foot 
and mouth disease (FMD), brucellosis, anthrax, rabies, hemorrhagic 
septicemia, equine infectious anemia (EIA), glanders and 
mycoplasmosis. 
 
INCREASING US-MONGOLIAN COLLABORATION 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  A major achievement of the symposium was the networking between 
the Mongolian and American scientists with ongoing plans to 
collaborate on future projects.  Plans are underway to hold another 
symposium in 2009 to help foster the new international relationships 
in the fight against infectious disease. 
 
¶7. The symposium was organized by Dr. Khurelbaatar, Deputy Director 
of the National Center for Communicable Diseases, and Dr. Gregory 
Gray, Director, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and 
Professor at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. 
Financial support for the symposium was provided by the World Health 
Organization.  Among those who addressed the gathering were 
Mongolia's Vice Health Minister, Dr. Tsolmon, and WHO Representative 
Robert Hagan.  The Charge  hosted a reception for the organizers and 
participants.  The symposium coincided with an outbreak of hand, 
foot, and mouth disease and the Mongolian Government's response to a 
possible Enterovirus 71 (EV71) outbreak.  The local press published 
the Embassy's press release on the symposium. 
 
MINTON