VZCZCXRO3059
RR RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHVK
DE RUEHAK #5324/01 2571157
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141157Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8654
INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0740
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 1911
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 1408
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 0910
RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU 0421
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 1581
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 1077
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 3063
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 1597
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN 1243
RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 0860
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0615
RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA 0200
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 5480
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KIEV 0733
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 7431
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6596
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 6581
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHVK/AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 0095
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1091
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1257
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHMFIUU/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFIUU/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFIUU/39CES INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFIUU/BDP INCIRLIK AB TU
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1491
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ASTANA 0108

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005324 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PLS PASS EST COLLECTIVE 
G STAFF FOR JED MELINE 
USAID FOR TROSTLE, BLANCHET AND CARROLL 
HHS FOR WSTEIGER/PBUDASHEWITZ 
CDC FOR DBULL AND TUYEKI 
FAS FOR ITP/MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP/WETZEL, FAS/JDEVER 
FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS 
VIENNA PASS APHIS 
BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ 
GENEVA PASS HEALTH ATTACHE 
ROME FOR US MISSION TO FAO 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: TBIO AMED EAID CASC SENV EAGR TU KFLU
SUBJECT: CRIMEAN-CONGO FEVER IN TURKEY 
 
¶1.  Summary: Cases of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Turkey have 
increased over prior years to 279, which resulted in 20 deaths over 
the past summer, causing public concern.  Because transmission to 
humans is mainly via ticks from domesticated animals, the Ministry 
of Health is coordinating closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, 
building on cooperation mechanisms established in combating avian 
influenza.  Although the number of human deaths is larger than those 
for avian influenza, the economic effect has been much smaller, the 
impact is limited to six provinces east of Ankara, and 
human-to-human transmission is extremely rare.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Tick-borne disease - Animals Show no Symptoms 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  Ministry of Health Doctor Yildirim Bayazit told us that cases of 
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) have grown to 270 for partial 
year 2006 from 263 in 2005 as a whole, affecting six Anatolia-Black 
Sea Provinces east of Ankara (Tokat, Gumushane, Amasya, Corum, 
Yozgat, and Sivas Provinces).  Both Bayazit and the European CDC 
Fact sheet (http://www.ecdc.eu.int/outbreaks/) on the disease 
suggest the possibility that the increase in cases may reflect 
greater detection, diagnosis, and notification, rather than 
increased activity of the virus.  A relatively new disease, CCHF was 
first documented in Turkey in humans in 2002. 
 
¶3.  Bayazit said that the Ministry of Agriculture (MARA) was acting 
as the lead agency in combating the disease, although they initially 
denied responsibility for responding to the tick-borne disease. 
According to Bayazit, MARA now devoted a budget of 50 million YTL 
($35 million) for CCHF.  Recent tests in cattle revealed that the 
disease was present in 80% of the cattle in the affected areas. 
Animals are just carriers for the disease and do not show symptoms 
(very much unlike avian influenza).  The reservoir for CCHF includes 
hares, birds, cattle, sheep, and goats.  The main vector for 
transmission is hard ticks of the Hayalomma genus.  The majority of 
human cases have been persons working in the livestock sector. 
 
¶4.  Bayazit emphasized the importance of preventing animal movement 
from infected areas.  He noted the particular risk of the sacrifice 
holiday, when there is normally significant movement of cattle, 
sheep, and goats. 
 
¶5.  Bayazit said that Turkey was cooperating closely with WHO which 
had recently sent a team.  The Turkey WHO rep said that Turkey's 
response to the disease had been solid and timely.  Turkey was 
 
ANKARA 00005324  002 OF 002 
 
 
seriously considering a proposal from the WHO related Mediterranean 
Zoonotic Control Program that Turkey organize a three-day regional 
meeting in Istanbul in November.  The CCHF virus has been found in 
ticks in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.  Bayazit 
said his office was focusing its efforts on public awareness for 
farmers in the region. 
 
-------- 
Comment: 
-------- 
 
¶6.  Turkey has been broadly recognized for a strong and transparent 
response to avian influenza in humans earlier this year and it has 
stepped up its readiness for future potential outbreaks or human 
pandemic influenza.  Like its efforts against avian influenza - much 
more dangerous for its economic effect on poultry and potential risk 
for transmission to humans - Turkey has organized a robust and 
transparent response for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, including 
good inter-agency coordination.  Turkey again could play a role as a 
regional model, building off its experience.  Turkey is interested 
in cooperation with the CDC, given the importance of tick-borne 
diseases in the U.S.  The twenty deaths this year fueled concern in 
the press, and despite the "Congo" part of the name, this disease is 
far removed from an Ebola Fever like scourge given low rates of 
contagiousness and mortality. 
Wilson