VZCZCXRO2254
OO RUEHAST
DE RUEHBM #0843/01 1420656
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 220656Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4473
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUCHAREST 000843 
 
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 UNFOLDS 
 
REF: A) BUCHAREST 834; B) BUCHAREST 811; C) BUCHAREST 523; 
 
D) BUCHAREST 310; E) BUCHAREST 79; F) 05 BUCHAREST 2302; G) 
05 BUCHAREST 2239; H) 05 BUCHAREST 2205, I) 05 BUCHAREST 
2185; J) 05 BUCHAREST 2177, K) 05 BUCHAREST 2152 
 
BUCHAREST 00000843  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
¶1.   (SBU) On May 18, authorities stepped up their effort to 
contain the H5N1 avian influenza (AI) outbreak in southern 
Transylvania, restricting traffic and establishing 
disinfection checkpoints on the DN 1 highway.  The virus has 
also been identified in the bird population within the city 
limits of Brasov, the region's largest city at 285,000 
residents.  The number of suspected cases of human AI has 
risen to 11, though the six earlier cases (reported reftel 
A) have tested negative to initial screening. 
 
AI ENTERS METROPOLIS 
-------------------- 
 
¶2.   (SBU) Authorities announced the presence of AI in 
poultry within the city limits of Brasov.  While initial 
press reports indicated infected chickens at the heart of 
the city, the National Veterinary Authority informed the 
Embassy that the case in question is on the outskirts of the 
city at Brasov-Stupini.  Officials have culled backyard 
birds in the area and imposed quarantine conditions. 
Another reported case in Ploiesti, a city of 233,000 between 
Bucharest and Brasov, has yet to be confirmed. 
 
¶3.   (SBU) The DN1 highway, a major thoroughfare connecting 
Bucharest to Transylvania and Hungary, passes through 
Brasov, and authorities are concerned with the economic 
effects should a wider outbreak in the city necessitate a 
strict quarantine.  The Ministry of Transportation has re- 
routed traffic on the DN1 between Sibiu and Brasov to 
secondary highways to avoid Fagaras and other affected 
villages and increased the number of disinfection stations. 
Road transportation on Romania's already-overburdened 
highways can be expected to slow considerably. 
 
 
PRELIMINARY TESTS NEGATIVE ON HUMAN CASES 
----------------------------------------- 
¶4.   (U) The number of cases of suspected human AI has 
increased to 11, though the initial six cases have tested 
negative for H5N1.  Minister of Health Eugen Nicolaescu 
announced that results will not be available for the five 
new cases from the affected region until May 20, though 
health officials believe they will also prove negative.  All 
human cases of suspected AI throughout the country are 
required to be brought to the Matei Bals Institute for 
Infectious Disease in Bucharest, according to the GOR's AI 
response plan.  The Ministry is stepping up its public 
education campaign on proper handling of poultry and poultry 
products.  According to Nicolaescu, the Ministry has 
distributed 30,000 units of Tamiflu since the first case 
appeared last October, and has a remaining stock of 70,000. 
The Ministry plans a tender for an additional 300,000 units. 
 
REPERCUSSIONS BEGIN 
------------------- 
¶5.   (U) Police in Brasov County have arrested three 
officials from the Drakom Silva poultry farm and one from 
another farm in Codlea, believed to be the epicenter of the 
recent outbreak.  Drakom Silva's owner and chief 
veterinarian were arrested on May 17 along with the owner of 
the other farm.  Drakom Silva's manager was arrested today. 
The four will be held in initial 29 day preventative custody 
while authorities investigate the extent of the farms' 
malfeasance.  The arrest warrant stated that they are under 
suspicion of possessing diseased animals and tax evasion. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
¶6.   (SBU) The ramifications of the recent AI outbreak 
continue to unfold.  While authorities believe they have 
confiscated nearly the entire production of the three 
suspected poultry farms from the beginning of May, some 340 
tons, the damage has been done for the poultry industry. 
Consumption has dropped 80 percent, and will not likely 
return to normal anytime soon.  The outbreak in Brasov has 
forced the GOR to consider the serious consequences it may 
face should a metropolis of this size require complete 
quarantine.  Post will continue to monitor the situation and 
report major updates. 
 
 
BUCHAREST 00000843  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
TAUBMAN