VZCZCXRO9816
OO RUEHAST
DE RUEHBM #0834/01 1381700
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 181700Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4457
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUCHAREST 000834 
 
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 EXPLODES ACROSS SEVEN ROMANIAN 
COUNTIES 
 
REF: A) BUCHAREST 811; B) BUCHAREST 523; C) BUCHAREST 310; 
 
D) BUCHAREST 79; E) 05 BUCHAREST 2302; F) 05 BUCHAREST 2239; 
G) 05 BUCHAREST 2205, H) 05 BUCHAREST 2185; I) 05 BUCHAREST 
2177, J) 05 BUCHAREST 2152 
 
BUCHAREST 00000834  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
¶1.   (SBU) Romania's Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed 
new cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza (AI) in three counties and 
is testing suspected outbreaks in four more. The cases all 
are clustered in central Romania, where no previous cases 
had occurred.  Six suspected cases of human AI have tested 
negative in rapid testing, though they remain open until 
more thorough test results are in.  Contaminated poultry 
meat is being removed from retail stores from Timisoara on 
the western border to Constanta on the Black Sea coast. 
The press reports that poultry sales have dropped by 80 
percent.  Criminal indictments are being drawn up for the 
administrators of the two commercial farms that appear to be 
the source of these new outbreaks.  Corruption among 
veterinary inspectors and local officials may have also 
contributed to the crisis.  Romanian Minister of Agriculture 
Flutur has asked for a budget increase to cope with this 
most recent crisis.  End Summary. 
 
Avian Flu Explodes Across Seven Counties 
---------------------------------------- 
¶2.   (U) Since the first new case of H5N1 was discovered in 
Brasov County in Transylvania on Friday, May 12, it appears 
as if AI has exploded across the country.  The National 
Institute for Animal Diagnosis and Health has confirmed H5N1 
in three counties and is testing suspected cases in these 
and four more counties.  All seven counties are contiguous, 
in central Romania.  None had seen cases of AI before. 
There are now eight confirmed H5N1 cases in Brasov County, 
including the two commercial farms, Drakom Silva and Pati 
Prod; and backyard farms in Hurez, Fagaras, Feldioara de 
Ucea, Soars, Dumbravita and Vistea de Jos.  One backyard 
farm outbreak has been confirmed in Sita Buzaului in Covasna 
County.  Another backyard case has been confirmed in 
Bolotest in Vrancea County. 
 
¶3.   (U) In addition, tests are being run on 29 suspected 
cases in six counties: 19 localities in Brasov County; one 
in Buzau County; three in Bacau County; one in Vrancea 
County; one in Sibiu County; and four in Valcea County.  All 
suspected cases are traced to distributors who sold live 
poultry to individual backyard farmers. 
 
Poultry Recalled Across the Country 
----------------------------------- 
¶4.   (U) Processed poultry meat from the Codlea (Brasov) 
slaughterhouse is being recalled from retailers in Bucharest 
and nine other counties: Brasov, Timisoara, Sibiu, Vrancea, 
Valcea, Constanta, Covasna, Buzau, and Prahova.  While 
authorities initially projected 11 tons of potentially 
contaminated meat, they have dramatically increased the 
number to 342 tons, corresponding with production in the 
Codlea industrial zone from May 1-13, 2006.  Of this, 
authorities claim that they have so far been able to recall 
325 tons of poultry from supermarkets and warehouses, 
representing 95 percent of the total. 
 
¶5.   (U) The Ministries of Agriculture and Health continue 
to reassure the public that the poultry recall is an added 
precautionary measure since the virus, if present, would be 
killed if the meat is cooked to at least 70 degrees Celsius. 
Local media continue to run public service announcements on 
the proper ways to handle and cook poultry products. 
 
Criminally Irresponsible 
------------------------ 
¶6.   (U) Minister Flutur labeled the involvement of some 
officials in this sudden outbreak of AI as "criminally 
irresponsible."  He dismissed the President and Vice 
President of the national Veterinary Health Authority the 
night of May 16.  The Director of the Brasov Health 
Veterinary Directorate resigned the same day, citing medical 
reasons. 
 
¶7.   (U) Prosecutors have interviewed the administrators of 
the two commercial farms that appear to be "ground zero" for 
the widespread outbreak.  Prime Minister Tariceanu has also 
called for administrative and criminal investigations and 
prosecutions for all those involved in violating the law and 
 
BUCHAREST 00000834  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
contaminating the food supply. 
 
¶8.   (U) Authorities have installed quarantines around all 
confirmed and suspected locations.  The public has been 
advised to avoid quarantined areas and traffic is being 
routed around hotspots.  Residents in some areas have 
objected to strict "code red" quarantine measures, 
complaining that they are not allowed to even leave the area 
to buy food. 
 
¶9.   (U) Farm workers were under strict quarantine on the 
two commercial farms, although the press reported that six 
employees escaped from the Drakom farm.  Authorities have 
asked them to voluntarily return so as not to risk their 
health or that of the public. 
 
¶10.  (U) Minister Flutur has requested that "crisis 
committees" be organized in each affected county to include 
the veterinary authorities as well as officials in the 
agriculture and interior ministries.  These committees are 
charged with 24 hour protection of the public and constant 
communication with national authorities on the status of the 
situation.  Flutur also requested an emergency budget 
supplement to deal with the crisis. 
 
SUSPECTED HUMAN CASES PROVE NEGATIVE 
------------------------------------ 
¶11.  (U) Six suspected cases of human AI were brought to 
Bucharest's infectious disease hospital.  The cases included 
a mother and two siblings and another infant from Codlea, a 
woman who had recently visited her parents in the town, and 
a street person from Bucharest.  All six cases tested 
negative under rapid tests, but are still considered open 
until more thorough tests are conducted. 
 
Cmment 
------- 
¶12.  (SBU) The rapid explosion o reports of H5N1 over a 
seven county area is disurbing, more so because each report 
appears to oiginate from the same source.  Accompanying 
reports of malfeasance, fraud and irresponsibility on the 
part of animal health officials and commercial poultry farms 
have added to the jitters of Romanian consumers.  Romanian 
authorities will have an up-hill task to restore confidence 
in their ability to contain AI, both among the Romanian 
public and officials in Brussels following Romania's 
progress towards EU accession. 
Taubman