AVIAN INFLUENZA: SITUATION UPDATE APRIL 12

UNCLAS DHAKA 002167 SIPDIS SIPDIS S/ES-O/CMS,SCA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT ASEC CASC AMED KFLO AEMR BG SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: SITUATION UPDATE APRIL 12 REF: A. STATE 219189 ¶B. 2005 DHAKA 6421 ¶C. DHAKA 001142 ¶1. On April 12, the Mission Avian Influenza working group met to review the preparedness stance at post and in-country. While there have been no major developments in the last month, additional measures have been taken to notify AmCits and Mission personnel about AI as suggested in Ref A. As part of America Week in Chittagong, AI information was delivered to AmCits at a Town Hall meeting. Avian Influenza has been the focus of two Mission-wide brown bag lunch presentations, one by USAID and another by the RMO. ¶2. Because of political and natural disaster concerns in Bangladesh, the Mission has considered contingency plans for draw downs and the like. The AI working group also wants to prepare personnel to remain in Bangladesh during periods when resources may be unavailable. In an emergency situation, it is likely that the pouch will not arrive, and access to the local market will be cut off. To that end, the RMO and MGT will issue a Mission Notice to provide suggestions of items for each household to have on hand, based on CDC guidelines. ¶3. The BDG AI plan (Ref C) remains largely unfunded. Plans to improve capacity at CDC-supported ICDDR,B are under consideration. Contributions by other donor organizations have not been announced officially, but are expected. A high-level delegation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will visit Bangladesh in the next few weeks to discuss AI plans with relevant partners. ¶4. Summary: With the announcement of an outbreak in Burma, Bangladesh is currently an AI-free oasis in the region. Without means to thoroughly conduct surveillance for or testing of suspected H1N5 virus samples, however, it is not likely that the country is in the clear. Because of health care service conditions in the country, the focus of the Mission remains preparation to shelter essential personnel in place in the event of an outbreak. BUTENIS