VIETNAM: AVIAN INFLUENZA WEEKLY REPORT FOR JANUARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000180

SIPDIS

STATE FOR USAID WASHDC
STATE FOR G; CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; EAP/EX; EAP/MLS; EAP/EP; INR;
OES/STC (PBATES); OES/IHA (DSINGER AND NCOMELLA)
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID/RDM/A (MFRIEDMAN AND JMACARTHUR)
USDA FOR FAS/PASS TO APHIS
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (LSTERN)
USAID FOR ANE AND GH (DCARROLL, SCLEMENTS AND PCHAPLIN)
STATE PASS USTR (ELENA BRYAN)
STATE ALSO PASS HHS/OGHA (EELVANDER)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR SOCI PGOV TBIO VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: AVIAN INFLUENZA WEEKLY REPORT FOR JANUARY
20, 2006

REF: HANOI 122


1. (SBU) Summary. There have been no new human Avian
Influenza (AI) deaths since late October 2005 and no human
cases over the past 64 days. As of January 20, the
Government of Vietnam (GVN) reports no AI outbreaks in
poultry since the last reported incident on December 17,
2005 in Cao Bang Province. Post believes it is premature to
declare victory given that AI is endemic to poultry in
Vietnam, surveillance remains limited and we have reports
that the nationwide vaccination program has had significant
problems in some provinces. The GVN's National AI Steering
Committee met to discuss preparedness for the Tet holiday
season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is
actively supporting GVN's poultry vaccination campaign with
needed diagnostic supplies and training. Post's AI Working
Group met to review a comprehensive draft AI Pandemic Plan
of Action, prepare for an AI tabletop exercise in early
February and discussed continued public outreach to the
American community in Hanoi. End Summary.

AI Snapshot
--------------


2. (U) As of January 20, 2006:

-- No human AI deaths since October 29
-- No new human AI cases in the past 64 days
-- No AI outbreaks in poultry since the last reported
incident on Dec. 17, 2005 in Cao Bang Province

AI "Contained"
--------------


3. (SBU) International and national press have reported
that Vietnam has successfully contained bird flu and that no
AI outbreaks have been detected over the past four weeks.
(NOTE: As previously reported, Post believes it is premature
to declare victory given that AI is endemic to poultry in
Vietnam, surveillance remains limited, and we have reports
that the nationwide vaccination program has had significant
problems in some provinces.)

National AI Steering Committee Meeting in Hanoi
-------------- --


4. (U) The National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Control
met in Hanoi on January 16 and local media reported that
representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture, Health,
Transport and Communications, and Trade expressed concern
over complicated AI developments in European Union
countries, Japan and China. Officials warned that weather
changes, increased volume of holiday travelers in tightly
confined areas (i.e. buses, trains, etc.) and the
transportation of popular poultry products during the
traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival could cause an
outbreak at any time and anywhere.


5. (U) At the same meeting, Minister of Agriculture and
Rural Development (MARD) Cao Duc Phat reportedly stated that
MARD will organize a meeting with the diplomatic corps to
inform them of Vietnam's successful control of avian flu.
Minister Phat also called for specific regulations on
establishing slaughterhouses in rural areas, including
guidelines for their sterilization and sanitation. MARD
Director of the Animal Breeding Department Nguyen Dang Vang
was quoted in local press saying that many domestic and
foreign enterprises have applied for building poultry
slaughtering houses with capacity of about 1,000 domestic
fowls per day in order to meet increasing demand for safe
poultry products.

More on Poultry Vaccination Campaign
--------------


6. (U) As previously reported (reftel),the GVN is
currently stockpiling vaccines for their next round of
nationwide poultry vaccination. According to local press,
the MARD Department of Animal Health (DAH) has reserved 40
million doses of vaccine and has imported an additional 150
million doses of vaccine in order to help provinces continue
the poultry vaccination program. To date, localities across
the country have completed their second round of vaccination
for over 120 million poultry.


7. (U) USDA's National Veterinary Science Laboratory (NVSL)
is supplying diagnostic reagents in addition to those
already supplied in connection with December real-time PCR
training program in order to fulfill critical GVN needs.
USDA is also urgently seeking a lab specialist for a three
to six month temporarily assigned to the southern area of
Vietnam. This would complement a Japanese specialist who
provides technical assistance to the DAH in northern
Vietnam. USDA will also sponsor two Vietnamese senior
laboratory officials on a two-week study tour in the United
States to learn about advanced laboratory techniques and
laboratory management.

Mission AIWG Meeting
--------------


8. (SBU) On January 19, core members of Post's AI Working
Group (AIWG) met to revise and refine the Mission's AI
Pandemic Plan and Action Checklist. The group reviewed FSO
and LES drawdown lists and tripwires. Specific roles for
drawdown staff during a worse case scenario were also
discussed. The group also discussed plans to organize an AI
tabletop exercise that would involve the Emergency Action
Committee (EAC). An Embassy town meeting to include AI for
staff will be held in conjunction with the visit of State
Med Director Dr. Laurence Brown next week. Post will
continue its efforts to inform the American community on AI
preparation.

BOARDMAN