PANDEMIC INFLUENZA: MISSION VIETNAM PREPARATIONS FOR

UNCLAS HANOI 002884 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, MED STATE PASS TO HHS/OGHA (WSTIEGER, EELVANDER AND ABHAT) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (LSTERN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT AMED TBIO ASEC KFLU KSAF KSEO VM SUBJECT: PANDEMIC INFLUENZA: MISSION VIETNAM PREPARATIONS FOR POSSIBLE SHELTER-IN-PLACE REF: A) STATE 177681, B) HANOI 1598, C) HANOI 727, D) (2005) State 183776, E) (2005) STATE 219189 ¶1. (U) Embassy Hanoi and the Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) have developed basic shelter-in-place plans and taken a number of steps to inform all employees and their families of the need to prepare for pandemic influenza, including the need to maintain emergency food stocks, per previous guidance in reftels D and E. As previously reported (reftels B and C),Post has developed extensive tripwires and contingency plans and conducted a tabletop exercise by digital video conference with Consulate General HCMC. ¶2. (U) Since February 2005, Post has provided guidance through Administrative Notices, town hall forums, seminars, and distribution of health-related materials (both informational and physical supplies) in support of specific events, such as immunization campaigns, to inform staff about preparedness, including the need for individual households to stockpile food and water. To promote behavioral change among staff and families (both American employees and LES),Post's Avian Influenza Working Group (AIWG) has repeated successful elements of previous campaigns to ensure improved preparedness over time. ¶3. (U) Water supplies remain a primary concern since water supplies in Hanoi and HCMC are not potable. Based on previous guidance (reftel E),Post enacted plans to advise employees of the need for two weeks of potable water in the event of a shelter-in-place scenario. Given the latest guidance (reftel A),Post is now updating materials and campaigns to assess and address a need for at least 2 weeks and up to 12 weeks of potable water for all American and LES families. Post has made this element a high priority in the updating of planning coincident with the expected seasonal upsurge in influenza activity. ¶4. (U) Specifically concerning preparations for water, Post is assessing: a) the completeness of implementation of filtration systems in all households; b) the probability of catastrophic cessation of the city water supply in Hanoi and HCMC; c) access to supplemental water supplies such as lakes, cisterns, and swimming pools; d) the need for supplemental training and equipment required for water treatment (because the supplemental water supplies are mostly not potable); and, e) costs (i.e., financial, space, and logistical) and benefits of increasing the supplemental potable water storage. Results of the AIWG water assessment is expected by the end of December, 2006. ¶5. (U) We invite offices from relevant departments or agencies with expertise in emergency preparedness and infectious diseases to comment on the anticipated effectiveness of planning to date. Program-related advice should be sent electronically to our AIWG Chair Captain Michael Iademarco at iademarcoMF@state.gov and AIWG Vice-Chair Karen McGuire-Rugh at McGuire-RughKA2@state.gov. MARINE