VIETNAM: AVIAN INFLUENZA WEEKLY REPORT FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002471

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR SOCI PGOV TBIO VM AFLU
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: AVIAN INFLUENZA WEEKLY REPORT FOR
SEPTEMBER 22, 2005

REF: Hanoi 2289 and previous


1. (U) Summary. There have been no new human cases of
Avian Influenza (AI) since Mission Vietnam's last reporting
on September 15. The World Health Organization (WHO)
confirmed that the August 28 death reported in the media was
caused by H5N1 AI. Mission Vietnam continues to work with
the international community on AI preparedness and presented
its tripwires during a British Embassy AI Contingency
Conference on September 20. The poultry vaccination program
is now moving forward in 19 provinces in addition to the
original two pilot provinces. Vietnamese officials project
the entire poultry population will be vaccinated by the end
of November. End Summary.

No New AI Cases
--------------


2. (U) There have been no new human cases of AI since
Mission Vietnam's last report. WHO's Dr. Hans Troedsson
confirmed September 21 that final test results showed that a
victim near Hanoi had died August 28 from H5N1 AI. WHO also
reported that it will soon establish a new AI website
specifically to report on Vietnam's AI situation.

Poultry Vaccination Program
--------------


3. (U) The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's
Department of Animal Health (DAH) reports that the
vaccination program is now moving forward in 19 provinces in
addition to the original two pilot provinces. The majority
of these are in the Mekong River Delta where authorities
want to complete the program by the end of September before
the onset of seasonal flooding. The DAH wants to complete
all vaccinations in high-risk areas by the end of October.
The DAH admits reports that Chinese vaccines are slow to
arrive, but says this will only delay the program's
completion by about two weeks. They now project the entire
poultry population will be vaccinated by the end of
November.


4. (SBU) Sources outside the DAH but familiar with the
program express concern that some provinces are not well
prepared for the vaccination program and are having
problems. Such claims are difficult to assess because no
independent monitoring has been established. Independent
veterinarians worry that the DAH's own system, which counts
the number of vaccinated birds based on claims for
compensation from vaccination workers, cannot accurately
indicate whether the target percentage of birds has been
vaccinated. Other questions related to use of proper
techniques by the workers, establishing sentinel birds,
etc., apparently are not being systematically monitored at
all.

Workshop on Embassy Preparedness Plan Meeting
--------------


5. (SBU) The WHO, United Nations Development Program (UNDP),
British, French and U.S. embassies presented their AI
preparedness plans to an invited audience drawn from the
diplomatic and NGO community at a British Embassy sponsored
meeting September 20. The UNDP offered technical assistance
to smaller embassies or organizations wishing to develop
their own plans. Participants had the opportunity to
compare contingency plans about what to do if WHO declares a
Phase 4 (Small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human
transmission but spread is highly localized) pandemic alert.
Some presenters raised a concern about the possibility that
one embassy might evacuate its citizens before others,
thereby creating a rush by other embassies and international
organizations to evacuate their own citizens from Vietnam.
There was also discussion about evacuation points and
alternate work sites during an AI pandemic.


6. (SBU) The WHO and UNDP presenters said that the
international community would have only a short window of
opportunity to evacuate its citizens should a pandemic
occur. The WHO, however, indicated that travelers may be
infected, but not symptomatic and thus spread the disease
further. The WHO recommended that potential evacuees be
screened before departure and recommended that no one with
any symptoms be allowed to travel. The WHO will give 100
percent reimbursement to its staff for personal influenza
vaccinations and recommended that all individuals over 65
years old get the pneumococcal vaccine. It also recommended
that each organization obtain enough Tamiflu for 30 percent
of its staff and dependents. The French said that they have
5500 doses of Tamiflu for their citizens.


7. (U) Post also used this meeting to encourage foreign
government officials in the audience to consider joining the
International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza
(IPAPI).

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


8. (U) Embassy Hanoi's Medical Unit conducted an AI pot luck
dinner presentation to over 30 Embassy staff and family
members on September 21. Post is offering 2005-06 flu
vaccine to all employee and eligible family members.
Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City is in the process of
acquiring 2005-2006 vaccine.


9. (U) Consulate General HCMC Health Unit conducted
briefings on influenza and avian influenza that was attended
by all American and FSN staff. Information materials were
provided in both English and Vietnamese and the briefing
taught employees how to recognize symptoms of influenza,
explained how to limit exposure and the spread of the virus,
and answered general health and immunization questions.
MINIMIZE CONSIDERED
MARINE