R 050837Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2587
INFO CDC ATLANTA GA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
AMEMBASSY SEOUL 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY ASTANA 
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000526 
 
 
USDA FOR FAS/DLP, FAS/ITP, FAS/ICD 
STATE FOR EAP/CM, OES/IHA, AND CA/OCS 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID, ATTN DWINSTON, ANE/EA 
BANGKOK FOR USAID FOR RDM/A 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: TBIO CASC EAID PGOV SENV KFLU MG
SUBJECT: MONGOLIAN AVIAN FLU UPDATE NOVEMBER 2008 
 
REF: ULAANBAATAR 268 
 
¶1.  November often marks the beginning of a four-month period where 
H5N1 outbreaks are concentrated in many countries, but in Mongolia 
migration due to the cold weather actually makes these months 
somewhat passive. 
 
¶2.  Update on WCS Field Veterinary Program -- Avian Influenza:  In 
FY 08, intensive capture efforts and mortality surveys resulted in 
the collection of samples from 1,377 water birds.  In October, these 
samples were exported to the United States and Hong Kong for 
laboratory testing supported through the National Institutes of 
Health's Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research (CEIR) 
program.  Testing of samples collected during the 2008 field season 
continued in November.   Results will be shared with USAID mission 
staff and government partners as soon as they are received. 
 
¶3.  The first resighting of Bean Geese tagged in Mongolia was 
reported from East Dongting Hu, China in November.  Specifically, 
the resighted Bean Geese were P81 (a female) and P82 (a male).  Both 
were caught together on Sangiyn Dalai Nuur, Hovsgol aimag on July 2, 
2008 (approx. N: 49.26023, E: 99.0688).  Swan Geese collared in 
Mongolia were also resighted in Poyang Lake, China.  A whooper Swan, 
which was originally banded in Darkhad this past summer, was also 
recently sighted in China. 
 
MINTON