Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05HANOI2519
2005-09-29 10:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:  

VIETNAM: AVIAN INFLUENZA WEEKLY REPORT FOR

Tags:  AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR SOCI PGOV TBIO VM AFLU 
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291009Z Sep 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002519 

SIPDIS

BANGKOK FOR USAID/RDM-A

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 29, 2005

REF: Hanoi 2471 and previous

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002519

SIPDIS

BANGKOK FOR USAID/RDM-A

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 29, 2005

REF: Hanoi 2471 and previous


1. (U) Summary. There have been no new human cases of Avian
Influenza (AI) since Mission Vietnam's last reporting on
September 22. In a meeting with Embassy officers, Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) officials noted
that post poultry vaccination monitoring was essential to
combat AI and requested assistance to acquire 20,000
injector guns, stated a need for foreign assistance to help
pay poultry vaccination workers, and provided a list of
materials needed for testing and training. MARD also
discussed the work plan for a USDA poultry specialist who
will work in Vietnam as part of the Mission Science Fellow
Program. Embassy Hanoi began flu inoculations for staff and
eligible family members. End Summary.

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


2. (U) Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)
Department of Animal Health (DAH) officials told FAS, Health
Attache and USAID Country Representative that post-
vaccination monitoring and surveillance is a priority to
determine whether the vaccination is effective; to measure
circulating virus in vaccinated birds; and, to detect
changes in the virus. DAH staff also admitted that the
quality of the vaccination program varied from province to
province, because vaccination worker payment is a local
responsibility and pay scales vary depending on the
commitment and resources of each local government. Foreign
assistance to make payments to workers more uniform would
help the vaccination program, they added.


3. (U) DAH officials noted issues with supplies for the
vaccination program. Vaccine from China continues to be
slow to arrive. There are many problems with most injector
guns in use, which come from China. DAH prefers German
injectors (with unbreakable plexiglass reservoirs),which
were provided by the Danish development agency, but the
price difference with Chinese models is substantial (USD 50
vs USD 10). DAH officials requested USG assistance in
obtaining better injectors and estimated that they need to
purchase 20,000 injectors at a cost of USD 1 million.
Injectors can last a number of years. MARD officials also
provided a list of materials they need for laboratory tests
and outlined MARD's personnel and training needs.


4. (U) MARD hopes to vaccinate a high percentage of all
poultry before December. However, since the life cycle of
most poultry being vaccinated (breeders and layers) is only
several years, the vaccination program will need to continue
into 2006 as new birds enter the national flock. The
program is scheduled to last through 2006.


5. (U) During the pre-vaccination evaluation of poultry in
target provinces, the GVN discovered that there are 20-30
percent more birds in Vietnam than previously estimated.

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


6. (U) DAH officials also discussed the proposed workplan of
a USDA poultry specialist who will work in Vietnam as part
of the Mission Science Fellow Program. The USDA specialist
has experience in poultry operations, biosecurity, poultry
diseases and disease control, vaccination application and
quality control of vaccination programs. DAH will likely be
able to use her skills in the post-vaccination surveillance
program.


7. (U) Embassy Hanoi's Medical Unit administered the flu
vaccine to 200 employees (American and Vietnamese) and
eligible family members (American),approximately half of
all those eligible. The Medical Unit hopes to provide
inoculations to the remainder by the end of this week.


8. (U) The Embassy will convene an Avian Influenza Working
Group meeting on September 29 to review preparations and
planning.

MARINE