VZCZCXRO6420
OO RUEHAST
DE RUEHBM #0811/01 1361556
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161556Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4420
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUCHAREST 000811 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NCE - WSILKWORTH AND CA/OCS/ACS-SSCHMIERER 
NSC FOR DAMON WILSON 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU TBIO PREL EAID CASC WHO RO
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA - OUTBREAK IN ROMANIAN COMMERCIAL 
POULTRY FARMS 
 
REF: A) BUCHAREST 523 B) BUCHAREST 310; C) BUCHAREST 79; D) 
 
05 BUCHAREST 2302; E) 05 BUCHAREST 2239; F) 05 BUCHAREST 
2205, G) 05 BUCHAREST 2185; H) 05 BUCHAREST 2177, I) 05 
BUCHAREST 2152 
 
BUCHAREST 00000811  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
¶1.   (SBU) Romania's National Institute for Animal Diagnosis 
and Health confirmed that H5N1 avian influenza (AI) has been 
found in Brasov County, the first confirmed case in 
Transylvania.  Ministry officials confirmed that the virus 
was found in three commercial farms in the county, and 
warned that 11 tons of possibly tainted meat may have 
reached major supermarkets in Bucharest and around the 
country.  There are fears that chickens may have been sold 
to other farms, potentially spreading the virus.  If press 
reports of bribes, corruption, poor veterinary practices and 
flagrant violation of food safety regulations are confirmed, 
this could become a major scandal calling into question the 
GOR's ability to contain the disease.   Severe economic 
consequences for an already beleaguered poultry industry are 
likely.  End Summary. 
 
Avian Flu Enters Transylvania 
----------------------------- 
¶2.   (SBU) The National Institute for Animal Diagnosis and 
Health confirmed on Friday, May 12, that H5N1 was found in 
dead birds collected from two backyard farms located near 
Beclean, just west of Fagaras town in Brasov County.  This 
news marked the first confirmed case in Transylvania or 
outside of the normal path of migrating birds.  According to 
the latest information from the GOR veterinary authorities, 
there are 5 confirmed outbreaks: one town (Fagaras) and 3 
villages: Hurez (Beclean), Feldioara (Ucea) and Soars.  Post 
notes that there are other villages under suspicion, making 
it likely more outbreaks will be confirmed in the coming 
days. 
 
Commercial Flocks Infected 
-------------------------- 
¶3.   (SBU) On May 13, the Romanian media reported the cause 
of the infection was poultry purchased from a private 
commercial poultry farm in Codlea, just west of Brasov city. 
The press reported that this farm had been closed 
immediately by government order and that all 150,000 birds 
on the farm were to be destroyed.  The press also reported 
that a second commercial farm of 600,000 birds in Codlea was 
also infected.  A Codlea city councilman told a resident 
American on May 16 that the town would be under quarantine 
for at least three days and possibly up to three weeks. 
Peace Corps medical personnel were informed by the Ministry 
of Agriculture on May 14 that they should remove the two 
Peace Corps volunteers located in the affected region so 
that they would not be trapped inside the "code red" 
quarantine area. 
 
¶4.   (U) On May 15, Ministry officials confirmed the 
outbreak as H5N1 and revealed that the virus had been 
located in three commercial chicken farms.  The outbreak was 
only discovered when a chicken farmer bought 500 birds and 
resold them to other small-scale and domestic farmers.  When 
the farmers discovered dying birds, they turned to the 
authorities.  According to Minister of Agriculture Flutur, 
the commercial farms had experienced an unusual increase in 
the bird mortality rate, but had failed to notify officials. 
 
HEALTH AUTHORITIES REACT 
------------------------ 
¶5.   (U) Authorities believe that as much as 11 tons of 
potentially infected meat may have found its way to store 
shelves in Bucharest and around the country.  Health 
authorities are working to trace the shipments, and have 
already removed 1.2 tons of meat from the shelves, including 
from major "hypermarkets" in Bucharest and elsewhere. 
Processing centers receiving infected birds may also have 
been exposed.  Press reports allege that veterinary 
inspectors were bribed and that the commercial farms were 
operating outside of government safety standards. 
 
¶6.   (U) It appears that government authorities reacted 
quickly once the outbreak became known.  Three affected 
towns have been quarantined, traffic in and out has been 
restricted, and disinfection and testing is being carried 
out within a 10km, radius.  Authorities have begun 
destroying chickens in commercial farms and backyards. 
Health officials are reportedly monitoring symptoms of 
 
BUCHAREST 00000811  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
individuals who have come in close contact with infected or 
potentially infected birds and are providing human flu 
vaccinations and Tamiflu to these individuals.  Animal 
health authorities state that they will investigate and 
inspect all commercial operations to ensure that they are in 
compliance with government bio-security regulations.  While 
domestic farmers will be compensated for their loss, 
commercial farms will only receive assistance if they have 
complied with sanitary regulations. 
 
A NEW TYPE OF OUTBREAK IN ROMANIA 
--------------------------------- 
¶7.   (SBU) This outbreak is substantially different than 
Romania's 51 previous avian influenza outbreaks.  The 
previous outbreaks occurred in small domestic flocks in 
rural backyards, in small villages located close to the 
Danube Delta or in areas with large bodies of water such as 
rivers and lakes.  These earlier outbreaks were attributed 
to migratory birds carrying the disease from Russia and 
Central Asia as they passed through Romania's eastern 
wetlands in the autumn and early winter.  Health officials 
had been optimistic that Romania was through the worst when 
the last open case was closed in April and returning 
migratory fowl showed no signs of the disease. 
 
¶8.   (SBU) The current outbreaks, attributed to a large 
commercial farm, are located in Brasov County, in the 
mountainous, central region of the country where no previous 
outbreaks have been reported.  The fact that commercial 
farms escaped detection points to a possible serious 
breakdown in sanitary regulation, particularly as such farms 
are required to have regular veterinary inspections.  The 
source of the virus in Brasov County is still unknown and is 
currently under investigation.  One theory advanced is that 
the disease was introduced by infected day-old chicks 
brought in from outside. 
 
Mismanagement, Corruption or Bad Luck? 
-------------------------------------- 
¶9.   (SBU) The media has started targeting evidence of 
veterinary or environmental service mismanagement and/or 
corruption, alleging that veterinary inspectors were bribed 
and that the source farm was operating outside of government 
safety standards.  In addition, the press has already 
identified and branded the manager of the original poultry 
farm that reportedly delivered diseased animals "guilty" of 
endangering public health, as well as the head of the local 
veterinary service branch and the Minister of Agriculture. 
According to sources, Minister of Agriculture Flutur has 
identified the head and deputy of the inspection division 
for dismissal. 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶10.  (SBU) Reports of cover up, corruption of animal health 
officials, and black market sales are particularly 
disturbing, given the ramifications of exposing a larger 
population to AI.  In the past, GOR officials have acted 
transparently, swiftly and effectively to control outbreaks 
among backyard fowl.  The new outbreaks in Brasov and 
Fagaras, however, raise serious questions about Romania's 
readiness to control the spread of the H5N1 disease in its 
domestic poultry industry.  While reports of malfeasance 
remain unconfirmed, this outbreak will force the Ministries 
of Health and Agriculture to take a very close look at the 
reliability of their local operations.  In veterinary 
inspections, as with other interactions involving government 
authorities at the local and regional level, corruption 
remains a persistent challenge. 
 
Taubman