VIETNAM: AVIAN INFLUENZA WEEKLY REPORT FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 002413

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G; CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; EAP/EX; EAP/BCLTV; EAP/EP; INR;
OES/STC (MGOLDBERG); OES/IHA (DSINGER AND NCOMELLA)
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID/RDM/A (MFRIEDMAN)
USDA FOR FAS/PASS TO APHIS
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (LSTERN)
USAID FOR ANE AND GH (DCAROLL, SCLEMENTS AND PCHAPLIN)
STATE PASS USTR (ELENA BRYAN)
STATE ALSO PASS HHS/OGHA (EELVANDER)
ROME FOR FAO

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR SOCI PGOV TBIO VM AFLU
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: AVIAN INFLUENZA WEEKLY REPORT FOR
SEPTEMBER 15, 2005

REF: A.) Hanoi 2324 B.) Hanoi 2289


1. (U) Summary. The United Nations Pandemic Preparedness
Mission Team briefed the diplomatic community on its
examination of the GVN Avian Influenza (AI) emergency plan
on September 9. The team was impressed with the emergency
plan (which has yet to be released) as a "first draft", but
noted areas where improvements are needed. On September 15,
the Ambassador announced a 500,000 USD grant by U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/CDC) to
Vietnam's National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology
(NIHE) to strengthen Vietnam's influenza surveillance
network. Press reports and sources within the government
allege deficiencies with the GVN's poultry vaccination
program. The British Embassy will host Consular
Preparedness Workshop on Pandemic Contingency Plans Tuesday,
September 20, 2005. At the workshop, ConOff will present a
summary of the Mission's AI contingency plan, and will hear
presentations on emergency plans by WHO, UNDP and the
British and French Embassies. End Summary.

AI-Related Cases
--------------


2. (U) For the second consecutive week, no new AI cases were
reported in Vietnam. The suspected AI death on August 28
from Soc Son, near Hanoi (Ref B),has not yet been reported
to WHO as a confirmed AI case by the Ministry of Health.


USG Assistance to Vietnam for AI
--------------


3. (U) On September 15, the Ambassador announced a HHS-
funded cooperative agreement, valued at 500,000 USD this
year, between HHS/CDC and Vietnam's National Institute of
Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) to strengthen Vietnam's
influenza surveillance network. The project is anticipated
to total 2.5 million USD over five years, subject to funding
availability. By enhancing systematic collection of
virological and epidemiological information for influenza,
Vietnam will more effectively be able to monitor and track
influenza viruses and disease activities in-country as well
as to understand the impact influenza has on Vietnam's
population. Improving the influenza surveillance system
will facilitate more rapid detection of changes to influenza
viruses, including possible changes to the avian virus H5N1.


4. (U) Post learned this week that the special USG 25
million USD appropriations signed in May will support
Vietnam's fight against AI with a grant of approximately two
million USD to support the joint program of the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the Food and Animal Organization
(FAO) in Vietnam. The grant will support the joint WHO/FAO
efforts to monitor and support the GVN's Emergency Plan to
combat an AI outbreak, especially in the area of its
vaccination program.


UN Debrief on GVN Avian Influenza Emergency Plan
-------------- ---


5. (U) A UN Pandemic Preparedness Mission Team, here last
week to advise the GVN on its draft AI emergency response
plan, debriefed the diplomatic community on September 9.
Team leader Dr. Felix Li repeatedly characterized the GVN's
AI plan as a good "first draft", lauding it's
command/control and communications aspects. However, Dr. Li
criticized the draft plan for focusing primarily on
ameliorative efforts at WHO pandemic stage 6. He stated the
most important phase is now, planning to prevent movement to
WHO phases 4 or 5, rather than planning solely for how to
save lives after a pandemic stage is reached. Dr. Li
expressed his opinion that Vietnam is the location holding
the highest risk for spawning a pandemic.


6. (U) While the team conducted an important first
outsider's review of the GVN emergency planning, details of
the plan were not/not released. According to the team, the
GVN needs to answer questions such as: How will the GVN
maintain essential services (fire, water, telecom, etc.) in
case of an AI outbreak? How to conduct vaccinations and who
to target? Will the plan be updated and will the GVN
practice the scenarios on the local level? The team will
complete its report with recommendations concerning the GVN
emergency plan soon and may share the report with the
international community after consultations with the GVN.

GVN Vaccination Program
--------------


7. (U) Vietnam News Agency reported that Hanoi and Ho Chi
Minh City would commence vaccinating poultry against AI on
September 15. Supervised vaccinations of household poultry
in Hanoi will be carried out on a trial basis.


8. (SBU) Asked about recent press reports critical of the
government's pilot vaccination program, sources within the
government confide that problems have arisen supplying
vaccine. The problems do not appear related to finances but
instead to confusion and conflicts between the private
importers of the vaccine and various government agencies.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)
officials acknowledge "minor" problems but claims that these
issues have been worked out and the vaccination program is
on schedule. They deny any problem with inadequate
resources for the vaccination program, but an impression
exists of an agency strapped for equipment, supplies, and
qualified workers -- and frustrated by slow and
uncoordinated international donor response.


Update on USDA TDYer Dr. Cheryl Hall
--------------


9. (U) USDA has identified Dr. Cheryl Hall, a USDA/APHIS
veterinarian who is expert in poultry disease, for a long-
term TDY as an Embassy Science Fellow in Vietnam to assist
the AI effort. According to MARD officials, improving field
laboratories' diagnostic capacity would be the best use of
Dr. Hall's expertise. However, this will require funds to
cover interpreters and extensive in-country travel for Dr.
Hall as well as new equipment and training for the
laboratories. MARD cannot cover these expenses and current
funding in place for Dr. Hall falls short of covering even
interpreters and in-country travel. Additional funding is
necessary to justify her TDY. The most likely source would
seem to be the funds available under the USAID Action Plan,
which includes general activities closely in line with Dr.
Hall's proposed work.

British To Host AI Contingency Conference September 20
-------------- --------------


10. (U) The British Embassy will convene a Consular Workshop
on Pandemic Preparedness Plans on Tuesday, September 20,

2005. Billed as an opportunity to compare pandemic
preparedness plans in the event of WHO Phase 4 (or higher)
Alert, the British hope to coordinate planning and assist
smaller embassies develop contingency plans. AMEmbassy Hanoi
ConOff will present a summary of our Mission's AI
contingency plan, and hear presentations on emergency plans
by WHO, UNDP and the British and French Embassies. We will
also utilize this opportunity to present core principles of
the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic
Influenza (IPAPI) to an expanded audience - approximately 30
embassies, UN agencies and key INGOs are expected to attend.

Other AI Related Issues
--------------


11. (U) CARE International in Vietnam will support the
Vietnamese Government and local organizations in a project
to prevent the spread of AI. With funding of approximately
138,000 USD from New Zealand's Agency for International
Development (NZAID),the project's goal is to assist in the
prevention, containment and management of AI in Binh Dinh
and Long An provinces.


12. (U) The Embassy will provide AI-related medical training
for Embassy guards and first responders this week. Also,
the Med Unit has organized AI discussion sessions for
employees and family members on September 21.

MARINE