VZCZCXRO6941
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHAM #4174/01 2841356
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111356Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0571
INFO RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0008
RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 0041
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0191
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1187
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0171
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0255
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0115
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 0031
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0080
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0041
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0251
RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 0003
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0619

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 004174 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES, M/MED, NEA/RA (LAWSON) 
STATE PASS USAID FOR GLOBAL HEALTH 
USDA FOR APHIS 
GENEVA FOR WHO REPRESENTATIVE 
ROME PASS US MISSION FAO 
AIAG FOR WINN 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KFLU XF JO
SUBJECT: Jordan Continues to Strengthen Avian Influenza 
Preparedness 
 
REF: Amman 1276 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Embassy Amman's Avian Influenza (AI) Task Force 
met October 9 with representatives from the Government of Jordan 
(GoJ) to share information on avian flu preparedness.  The meeting 
focused on: tracking the progress of avian flu; surveillance and 
detection training; and preparedness and treatment options.  The GoJ 
reported that they have a comprehensive preparedness and prevention 
plan, but still lack adequate supplies of tamiflu or personal 
protective equipment to respond to a human pandemic outbreak. 
Jordan also continues to cooperate on AI preparedness with Israel 
and the Palestinian Authority.  End Summary. 
 
---------- 
Background 
---------- 
 
¶2.  (U) During an October 9 meeting with the Embassy's AI Task 
Force, GOJ officials from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the 
Ministry of Health (MOH) reported that no new cases of AI in poultry 
and humans have been detected in Jordan since March 2006 (Ref A). 
However, with the annual wild-bird migration season approaching, the 
risk of AI cases increases. 
 
--------------------------- 
Current Status of Avian Flu 
--------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Resident 
Advisor Gerber  gave an overview of the global avian influenza 
situation, currently at the WHO's phase three definition (cases in 
birds, but no efficient human-to-human transmission).  Gerber noted 
that since January 2007, confirmed occurrences of H5N1 avian flu in 
poultry and wild birds have been reported in  Nigeria, the U.K., 
Egypt, Hungary, Russia, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Thailand, 
Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Korea, and Japan.  He noted the AI in 
humans has a high case fatality (over 60%), and that incidences of 
H5N1 have been highest in those below the age of thirty.  Gerber 
stressed the importance of surveillance for AI detection. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
Jordan's Actions on AI Preparedness and Prevention 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Dr. Adel Belbessi, Assistant Secretary General at the 
Jordanian Ministry of Health (MOH), said that Jordan has been 
preparing seriously for avian flu through development of an avian 
influenza preparedness plan.  He also stated that Jordan has 3 
million capsules of tamiflu for roughly 300,000 treatment doses for 
human H5N1 treatment, which would treat approximately 3 percent of 
Jordan's population.  The MOH, through USAID assistance, has in 
stock 6,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) and is 
expected to receive another 4,500.  Belbessi noted that these 
numbers were not adequate.  He said that in case of an AI outbreak, 
the tamiflu and the PPE's would be distributed mainly for staff who 
deal with AI patients and for the individuals who support the core 
services in the country, such as police and civil defense. 
 
¶5.  (U) The MOH has designated twelve hospitals around Jordan that 
are ready to face avian flu cases if they occur.  The Ministry of 
Health also has labs across the country with two trained persons per 
lab.  Those labs can do rapid H5N1 and Polymerase Chain Reaction 
(PCR) tests.  Belbessi noted that there is minimal contact with 
 
AMMAN 00004174  002 OF 002 
 
 
Syria on AI, but the GOJ works closely with their Palestinian 
Authority and Israeli counterparts, with whom a joint AI exercise is 
planned for later in 2007.  MOH conducts three kinds of training: 
hospital training to handle AI cases; infection control training at 
the hospitals; and surveillance training. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Dr.  Mohammed Abu Rumman, Head of the Veterinary Lab at 
the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), said that the PCR units are 
available at the Ministry's labs and that they collaborate with the 
Ministry of Health.  Rumman mentioned that the MOA has already 
vaccinated 90% of the country's backyard local birds and that they 
have available vaccines in stock.  GOJ interlocutors confirmed that 
backyard flocks continue to be Jordan's main concern, given that 
commercial flocks are generally isolated from wild birds and outside 
contact.  Rumman added that the MOA conducts drills to train their 
staff as well as staff of other ministries to deal with AI.  They 
have already done a drill in Mafraq (Eastern desert) and Zarqa (East 
of Amman). 
 
---------------------------------- 
FAO/UN Avian Flu Program in Jordan 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) Dr. Laura Sawalha, Head of the Epidemiology Unit at the 
Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and National Project Director of the 
FAO-funded AI Program, described the expected outcome of the program 
to develop and establish national active surveillance systems for 
backyard, commercial, and migratory birds.  She mentioned that the 
MOA has benefited from FAO technical assistance to develop its 
laboratory capacity.  The FAO's initial assistance was USD 90,000 to 
cover training and laboratory and field equipment (PPE's). 
 
¶8.  (U) Sawalha described the current program in which a project 
coordinator in each governorate regularly visits poultry farms and 
fills a coded questionnaire that is submitted monthly to the central 
epidemiology unit for data processing and analysis.  The project 
coordinator also monitors the production parameters, mortality, feed 
and water intake, clinical signs such as respiratory signs and 
decrease in egg production, and bio security measures.  The 
coordinators take samples for rapid testing if they suspect any 
cases.  Active sampling is expected to begin in a few months time. 
 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Website at: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman 
 
HALE