VZCZCXRO7392
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHLM #0568/01 1000545
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100545Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3072
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 2937
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1195
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 9085
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 0075
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 5974
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4008
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9483
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2002
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 0153
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 6520
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4440
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1118
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000568 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS, SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR OIE DANIEL SINGER AND REBECCA S DALEY 
STATE FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KSTH ECON PREL SOCI WHO EAGR CASC MV
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA  PREPARATIONS IN MALDIVES 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Lack of a concentrated poultry sector 
keeps Maldives at low risk for highly pathogenic avian 
influenza (HPAI). At the same time, it also presents 
challenges for surveillance and detection in the case of 
infection due to inadequate animal testing facilities, 
underdeveloped quarantine and licensing standards, and the 
absence of national veterinary services.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) RISK STATUS AND CURRENT PREPARATIONS: The Food and 
Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 
classifies Maldives as a low risk country for AI due to the 
lack of a formal poultry and live animals sector, although 
some inhabitants keep wild birds as pets and a few chickens 
for household consumption.  The FAO worked with Maldivian 
ministries to develop more stringent guidelines surrounding 
poultry-keeping to reduce risk, such as keeping roaming 
animals within demarcated areas.  Maldives has protective 
gear equipment for 200 officials should the need arise to 
investigate birds suspected of contracting AI. 
 
¶3. (U) COORDINATION: Maldives finalized its national 
preparedness plan in late March. According to Dr. Sheena 
Moosa, Director of Health Services for the Ministry of 
Health and designated AI point of contact, two technical 
committees currently exist to address the human and animal 
aspects of AI, as well as an inter-sectoral committee 
responsible for coordinating between relevant ministries 
such as tourism, finance, media, and trade. 
 
¶4. (U) GAPS AND FUTURE STEPS:  Moosa identified the need for 
isolation facilities to prevent the need for an infected 
person to be brought to the crowded capital island of Male. 
Maldives national referral hospital for AI, Indira Ghandhi 
Memorial Hospital, can conduct influenza A tests for humans 
with samples sent to Hong Kong for confirmation. 
 
¶5. (U) Currently Maldives has no animal testing capabilities. 
While it has a building that meets the biosafety level 2 
(BSL2) requirements for animal testing (a medium-level of 
biosecurity), it has no laboratory equipment, reagents, or 
trained personnel for AI detection. The current designated 
reference laboratory for animals is in the United Kingdom. 
 
¶6. (U) COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS: Regarding bird migrations 
after the wet season, Moosa reported coordinating with the 
e 
Atolls Ministry to educate and establish two official 
contacts for each island, one for health and the other for 
animal issues. Two-day trainings have been administered to 
five of the twenty atolls, which consist of 10 to 20 
inhabited islands each. An agriculture hotline has been set 
up to report unusual bird deaths. The previously established 
health reporting system through atoll clinics will alert the 
Ministry of Health of possible human infections. 
 
¶7. (U) FAO RECOMMENDATIONS: EconIntern met with Dr. G.N, 
Gongal, a veterinary expert and FAO consultant invited from 
Nepal to assess the Maldivian and Sri Lankan preparedness. 
Gongal recommended integrating AI surveillance and detection 
measures into existing institutions, stressing the need for 
capacity-building in laboratory and quarantine sectors.  He 
also made the following recommendations: 
 
-Inviting Maldivian officials to Sri Lankan workshops and 
promoting their participation in regional and international 
forums on agriculture as a cost-effective means of training. 
Under WHO guidelines for safe testing of influenza A, 
Maldives can utilize their BSL2 facility (noted previously) 
if technicians are trained properly in the highest biosafety 
level (BSL3) standards of procedure. 
 
-Integrating both aquatic and animal quarantine into the 
public laboratory currently overseeing plant quarantines, 
 
COLOMBO 00000568  002 OF 002 
 
 
and strengthening import licensing standards. 
 
-Utilizing the well-functioning health information systems 
for veterinary information, since there is no national 
veterinary service. Precedents are already established in 
Maldives for using this system to report sick animals. (Note: 
The Department of Agriculture feels it should have animal 
surveillance under its jurisdiction, but given the lack of 
poultry, low population, and limited resources of this 
archipelago nation, utilizing existing resources in its AI 
preparedness plan rather than creating new responsibilities 
within multiple ministries might be a better approach. End 
Note.) 
 
¶8. (U) MALDIVIAN GOVERNMENT: Gongal described government 
officials as cooperative, and added that AI preparation 
efforts were getting financial support from the Ministry of 
Finance.  Moosa affirmed that the Maldivian government had 
designated some funds in addition to requesting the 
Department of External Resources to identify other potential 
sources of funds. Moosa also mentioned the possibility of 
WHO assistance. 
 
¶9. (SBU) COMMENT:  As a small nation of hundreds of islands 
(many uninhabited), Maldives presents special problems in 
surveillance of AI.  However, its minimal poultry population 
spread out over vast distances of ocean (which itself 
provides significant protection against a pandemic) 
contributes to its low risk status for AI.  Adapting 
existing resources and including Maldives officials in 
regional workshops and training could be a cost-effective 
way to assist Maldives in becoming as prepared as possible. 
Assisting Maldives to develop appropriate monitoring systems 
for its wildlife would also bolster regional security 
efforts against AI outbreaks.  End Comment. 
 
LUNSTEAD