WGSARS: Vietnamese Medical Situation - Update 3/28

UNCLAS HANOI 000789 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR M/MED C.DUMONT, HODAI, DORSEY; CA FOR M.HARTY, ANDRUCH; M FOR ERIN ROONEY, NAMM; EAP/EX FOR BAER, SHEPPARD, JENKINS; EAP/BCLTV; BANGKOK FOR ADM KEUR, RMO KEYES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMED AMGT CASC TBIO VM SUBJECT: WGSARS: Vietnamese Medical Situation - Update 3/28 REF: Hanoi 768 ¶1. (U) To our knowledge, no new SARS cases were reported on March 28 (but Mission was unable to get a hold of WHO in Hanoi by COB today to verify this information). The French Hospital discharged another four persons on the evening of March 27 for a total of 13 cases discharged since the beginning of the outbreak. ¶2. (U) The Australian Embassy reports that it is providing prospective travelers to Vietnam with information from the World Health Organization's website and is advising that Australians concerned at the risks presented by SARS in certain countries should reconsider their need to travel. Denmark and the United Kingdom also are providing information based on the WHO website. The Canadian Embassy provides SARS information from its Health Canada website. The French Embassy is sending out warden messages almost everyday and is also posting information on its Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The Czech Republic's Embassy is advising Czech citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Vietnam and is cautioning about secondary effects due to the reduction of available medical facilities in Hanoi. ¶3. (U) In our message to non-official American citizen wardens on March 17, Mission advised that American citizens should avoid visiting hospitals or clinics. We no longer believe this precaution is necessary. Clinics have instituted careful screening procedures to separate any potential SARS cases from the general population in waiting rooms. In addition, barring a new introduction of SARS from outside of Vietnam, it appears that SARS continues to be confined to the health care community in Vietnam. BURGHARDT