The Meeting of the Government of Georgia was held on 28 February 2006. The Agenda consisted of 23 items.
Before the beginning of the Meeting, the Prime Minister of Georgia asked Minister of Agriculture of Georgia Mikheil Svimonishvili to report about the situation related to bird flue.
Mikheil Svimonishvili:
A state of emergency has been declared in Adlia, Georgia. We can say that domestic bird destruction operations have been completed in 16 villages within a 3-km strip. Up to 11 monitoring groups are working to make sure that no bird has been hidden away. 1705 domestic chickens have been destroyed; 5 disinfections barriers have been set up; All the incoming vehicles are being disinfected within a 3-km strip. Some 400 persons, including the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, local authorities of Ajara, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Health, are working additionally within the state of emergency zone. By the end of this evening, the viral pesthole in Adlia will have been fully liquidated. As for the other territories of Georgia, the anti-bird flue efforts have been stepped up in Paliastomi and Kolkheti Lowland territories.
Yesterday, we held a meeting in Lanchkhuti, where in coordination with the Governor, identified a specific action plan to respond to any bird fall within the territory of Kolkheti lowland. All the centers in Georgia have been mobilized. We have special equipments as well as disinfectants. As for our neighbouring countries, Azerbaijan today has confirmed the existence of the H5N1 virus in a bird and has destroyed nearly one hundred thousand birds. The H5N1 virus was found in Stavropol as well. The bird flue virus is spreading quickly in the neighbouring countries but not a single bird fall has been confirmed in Georgia. By February 27, Georgia received 4500 reports, to which our agencies have responded adequately. It should be mentioned that yesterday the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture have received a letter from International Epizootic Bureau, in which our efforts are welcomed. In a few days, the Epizootic Bureau is sending experts in Georgia for assistance.
The Ministry of Health has already started disseminating information booklets in an effort to prevent the spread of bird flue. Intensive explanatory lessons and instructions are held in regions, education establishments and for children. All the measures that you have assigned on us are being fulfilled.
Zurab Noghaideli:
In fact, we have beaten the pesthole in Adlia. WE wrapped things up in just 2 days. I'd like to say that all the ministries acted promptly and effectively. In fact, we have forestalled the transfer of the H5N1 virus from wild to domestic birds. All the central and local services from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Internal Affairs have been mobilized. Our decisions are stringent. We have beefed up the centers in Poti, West Georgia, Samegrelo, Kolkheti lowland. However, it should be said that luckily no H5N1 virus has been confirmed there. Based on the latest report, I'd like to assign Lekso Aleksishvili to tighten control at customs checkpoints. I'd like to repeat that the Ministry of Agriculture has been highly acclaimed by the International Epizootic Bureau. We are acting precisely in line with the method that is currently employed in the global drive against the bird flue virus. Quite frequently, our efforts have proved to be more effective that in some EU countries, though we must not be satisfied with it. Rather, we must continue to be most vigilant.
Press Center of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia