Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DHAKA3887
2006-06-29 09:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

AVIAN INFLUENZA: SITUATION UPDATE JUNE 21

Tags:  KFLU AMGT ASEC CASC AMED AEMR BG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4468
PP RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB
DE RUEHKA #3887 1800944
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 290944Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9154
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 7745
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7494
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1184
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8596
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9191
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2456
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
UNCLAS DHAKA 003887 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

S/ES-O/CMS,SCA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AMGT ASEC CASC AMED AEMR BG
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: SITUATION UPDATE JUNE 21

REF: A. A. STATE 219189


B. B. NEW DELHI 01519 (AND PREVIOUS)

C. C. DHAKA 006421

UNCLAS DHAKA 003887

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

S/ES-O/CMS,SCA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AMGT ASEC CASC AMED AEMR BG
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: SITUATION UPDATE JUNE 21

REF: A. A. STATE 219189


B. B. NEW DELHI 01519 (AND PREVIOUS)

C. C. DHAKA 006421


1. On June 21, the Mission Avian Influenza Working Group met
to discuss updates to the preparedness stance at post and
in-country. Since Ref C reports, significant changes in the
country's detection infrastructure have been planned. The
Department of Health and Human Services, has entered into a
contract with the CDC-partnered ICDDR,B laboratory. The
three year proposed program will upgrade lab capabilities to
be able to test 800-1000 specimens per month for HPAI. CDC
Representative, Steve Luby, said they hope the lab will be
operational by October. In addition, the program will fund
expanded human surveillance, to 12 sites in all six divisions
of Bangladesh. CDC has also directly funded a program for
poultry surveillance that focuses on outreach to NGOs. It
will ensure that data will be shared with BDG and USG at the
same time. According to Luby, "we're in a much different
situation than we were six months ago. It has been the USG
that has stepped up" to fund needed programs.


2. In addition to funded items, ICDDR,B is working directly
with the Ministry of Health to assist them in applying for
available CDC funds. A CDC team visited Dhaka the week of
June 25th to work on their proposal. Expenditures of about
$1.7 million in USAID PL-480 funds are pending final approval
by the BDG; the embassy is pressing for prompt action.
Several million dollars have been earmarked from the Danish
International Development Agency, Japan International
Cooperation Agency, and the World Bank to be used towards
implementation of the National Advisory Committee for Avian
Influenza's National Plan. Specific proposals have not been
issued.


3. The Mission AI working group will continue to make
preparations according to USG guidance. The Consular Section
continues to inform AmCits with emerging information, at Town
Hall meetings, in warden messages and on the embassy website.
The group will meet again next month, or as needed.
BUTENIS