REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON AVIAN AND PANDEMIC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VIENNA 003865

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR OES/IHA, EUR/AGS (VIKMANIS KELLER),AND EUR/PGI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO SENV ECON EAGR EAID PREL CASC AU WHO
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON AVIAN AND PANDEMIC
INFLUENZA: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE

REF: STATE 209622


1. Enclosed, are Post's responses to the questions in reftel.

A) PREPAREDNESS/COMMUNICATION

Q: Does the government have a preparedness plan/strategy for
preventing avian flu from becoming a pandemic and containing
a pandemic once it occurs? If the country has a strategy,
how capable is it of implementing it? Please provide a copy
of the plan or the Internet address for the plan.

A: Since March 2000, Austria has had a contingency plan on
avian influenza and Newcastle disease (Krisenplan Aviaere
Influenza und Newcastle Disease). In addition, the Austrian
government published an Influenza Pandemic Plan (Influenza
Pandemieplan, Strategie fuer Oesterreich) in September 2005,
which covers measures, competent authorities, diagnostic,
clinical and hygienic measures, media, and communication, as
well as the regulatory framework. In order to prevent
Austrian poultry and domestic birds from contracting avian
flu from migratory birds, an ordinance on the mandatory
confinement of poultry and domestic birds indoors came into
force on October 22, 2005 and will end on December 15, 2005
(Verordnung.der Bundesministerin fuer Gesundheit und Frauen
zur Verhinderung der Einschleppung der Gefluegelpest). If
necessary, Austrian authorities may extend the ordinance.
Austria is highly capable of implementing this strategy. The
Pandemic Plan and additional information on avian and
pandemic influenza is available on the homepage of the
Austrian Ministry of Health and Women at www.bmgf.gv.at.

Q: How truthful will the government be in reporting the
scope of any disease outbreak among people? Among animals?
What incentives could be offered that would likely result in
more transparency?

A: The Austrian government will be very forthcoming and
transparent in its reporting of the scope of any disease
outbreak among people and among animals. Incentives are not
needed.

Q: Where does preparing for an avian flu human pandemic rank
among government priorities? Who and what would most
influence the country to give the issue a higher priority?
Who is the key "go-to" person, office or department (i.e.
Minister for Health, Prime Minister, etc.) for USG officials
to engage on this issue?

A: Preparing for an avian flu human pandemic is a high
priority of the federal government. However, the Ministry of
Health is also emphasizing that there is no reason for
"panic" and that an outbreak of the disease is very unlikely
in the near future in Austria. The key authority for avian
flu issues is the Austrian Ministry for Health and Women
(Bundesministerium fuer Gesundheit und Frauen).

The contact for the consumer health and national veterinary
administration is:
Mr. Ulrich Herzog
Federal Ministry for Health and Women
Radetzkystrasse 2, 1030 Vienna
Phone: 43-1-71100 Ext. 4824 or Ext. 4825
Fax: 43-1-710-41-51
Email: anita.chvatal(at sign)bmgf.gv.at

The contact for the national contingency plan is:
Dr. Elisabeth Reisp
Federal Ministry for Health and Women
Radetzkystrasse 2, 1030 Vienna
Phone: 43-1-71100 Ext. 4821
Fax: 43-1-710-41-51
Email: elisabeth.reisp-poechhacker(at sign)bmgf.gv.at

Q: Have national laws been reviewed to ensure that they are
consistent with the international health regulations and do
not pose barriers to avian influenza detection, reporting,
containment, or response?

A: Yes. The pandemic plans on avian and human influenza
specifically refer to the WHO international health
regulations and recommendations, as well as to EU guidelines.

Q: Is the host country already working with international
organizations or other countries on the avian flu issue? Are
government leaders likely to ask for assistance from the
U.S.or other countries? Would government leaders be
receptive to messages from U.S. leaders through a bilateral
approach, at a multilateral forum such as the UN (WHO, FAO,
etc.) or APEC, or through bilateral contacts by a third
country? What would the country want from the U.S. in return
for its efforts?
A: Austria is already working with international
organizations (e.g. the WHO) and other countries (mainly EU
countries) on the avian flu issue. In the case of a major
outbreak the GOA would ask for assistance, if the GOA
believed it could benefit from it. Government leaders would
be receptive to messages at a multilateral forum and also on
a bilateral basis.
Q: Does the country currently administer annual flu shots?
If not, might it consider doing so? What is the production
capability (i.e. how many doses of the annual trivalent flu
vaccine can the country make) for human influenza vaccines in
the country? Does the country produce influenza vaccine for
poultry and if so how much? If the country is developing an
H5N1 vaccine, where is it in production and testing? Any
licensing issues? Is there a liability shield for foreign
makers/donors of vaccines? If not, any prospects of one
being enacted?

A: Austria does have a yearly updated "vaccination plan"
that includes voluntary flu shots. 17% of the population
receives the vaccine regularly. The GOA does not produce
human influenza vaccines. Pharmacies purchase the vaccine
from pharmaceutical companies according to estimates about
the amount of vaccines needed within the vaccination period.
It appears that in 2005, they underestimated the demand due
to more people requesting the flu shot. Vaccines from abroad
need an import license.

Austria does not produce influenza vaccine for poultry.
Currently, there is no approved poultry vaccine against avian
flu within the EU. In Austria, preventive poultry
vaccination is prohibited. However, in the case of a major
outbreak of avian flu, Austrian authorities might allow
vaccinations on an exceptional basis, but this is not very
likely.

The GOA is cooperating with the Austrian subsidiary of the
U.S. firm Baxter to produce a prophylactic human influenza
vaccine in the case of a looming pandemic. The Austrian
Product Liability Act is valid for pharmaceuticals, including
vaccines. A producer or an importer is liable for damage
irrespective of who is at fault. The exception is the
so-called "development risk." For example, if the party at
fault is unknown or cannot be determined, including in
instances involving an unknown virus, an importer cannot be
made liable.

Q: How well informed is the population about the avian flu
threat and about measures they should take to mitigate the
threat? What mechanisms are available for providing
additional information to the population, particularly in
rural areas, and how effective are these measures?

A: The Austrian public is well informed about the avian flu
threat through the media. The government is also asking the
public to report sightings of all dead birds to the
authorities. Austrian poultry growers must register with the
authorities. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety
(Oesterreichische Agentur fuer Gesundheit und
Ernaehrungssicherheit) installed a telephone hotline, where
the public can receive information on avian flu. The hotline
phone number is: 43-50555-666.

B) SURVEILLANCE/DETECTION

Q: How capable are the medical and agriculture sectors of
detecting a new strain of influenza among people or animals
respectively? How long might it take for cases to be
properly diagnosed, given other endemic diseases? Can
influenza viruses be sub-typed in the country, if so by whom,
and if not where are they sent? Does the country send
samples to a WHO/EU/U.S. reference laboratory?

A: According to the Pandemic Plan, the medical sector has a
surveillance program in place. There are two "competence
centers," which are responsible for this program. These are
The Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene in Vienna,
which cooperates with The Austrian Agency for Health and Food
Safety (AGES),and the Institute for Virology at the Medical
University of Vienna. The system is based on the "Sentinella
Reporting System," where a network of doctors screens
patients on a weekly basis, who are under suspicion of
carrying the influenza virus. The results are sent to AGES.
Health insurance companies in the Austrian states also have
to report all cases of influenza.
The agricultural sector is carrying out a surveillance
program on avian flu. Authoriites test approximately 5000
wild and domestic birds annually for avian influenza.
Results from these test samples are available in one to two
days. In the case of a positive result, a second test is
performed. A definitive result is available after 3 to 4
days. The reference laboratory of the Agency for Health and
Food Safety (AGES) tests for viruses in birds.

In case of an occurrence of a virus-isolate, the authorities
would automatically forward the isolate to the WHO. Among
European countries there is an information exchange system on
the epidemiology situation in Europe, the European Influenza
Surveillance System (EISS).

Q: What are the critical gaps that need to be filled in
order to enhance the country's disease detection and outbreak
response capabilities? What is the country's greatest need
in this area from the U.S. or international organizations?

A: There are no critical gaps in Austria,s disease
detection and outbreak response capabilities at the moment.

C) RESPONSE/CONTAINMENT

Q: Does the country have a stockpile of medications,
particularly of antivirals, and if so, how much? If some has
been ordered, how much and when is it expected?

A: The GOA plans to stockpile antiviral medications for 25%
of the population, or approximately two million people. The
Ministry of Health and Women is still negotiating with the
producer of Tamiflu, the antiviral that is seen to be most
effective, concerning the purchase of these medications.
Some provincial Austrian states have already ordered Tamiflu
and will be stockpiling them.

Q: Does the country have a stockpile of pre-positioned
personal protective gear?

A: The government has stockpiles of protective gear for
people, such as hospital personnel, who would be particularly
exposed to the virus. The Pandemic Plan advises that
protective gear be available for the entire population in
case of an outbreak of the disease, but the government has
not stockpiled enough equipment for the entire population.
The GOA is considering recommending to the public that they
stockpile equipment, such as masks, themselves.

Q: What is the rapid response capacity for animal and human
outbreaks? Are guidelines in place for the culling and
vaccination of birds, disinfection of facilities, and
limitations on animal movement?

A: The Austrian Contingency Plan and the Pandemic Influenza
Plan are both in place. Both elaborate the guidelines for
the culling of birds, the disinfection of facilities, and the
limitations on animal movement. The legal basis for the
measures are in the Austrian Epizootic Act
(Tierseuchengesetz, RGBl. Nr. 177/1909) and in the Austrian
Avian Flu Ordinance (Gefluegelpest-Verordnung, BGBl. Nr.
465/1995).

Q: How willing and capable is the government of imposing
quarantines and social distancing measures (closing schools,
public gatherings, mass transit)? Would its military enforce
quarantines?

A: Current plans do not foresee imposing quarantines or
related restrictions. The GOA only provides for hygienic
measures in case of human bird flu infections. If necessary,
the GOA has sufficient police and military personnel and
equipment to impose and enforce quarantines.
MCCAW