AVIAN INFLUENZA: VIETNAM WEEKLY REPORT FEBRUARY 10,

UNCLAS HANOI 000301 SIPDIS USAID/RDM-A/BANGKOK PRIORITY 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 KFLU PINR SOCI TBIO VM SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: VIETNAM WEEKLY REPORT FEBRUARY 10, 2006 REF: A) HANOI 225 B) HANOI 110 ¶1. (U) Summary. There have been no new human Avian Influenza (AI) deaths since late October 2005 and no human cases over the past 85 days. The Government of Vietnam (GVN) continues to report no AI outbreaks in poultry since the last reported incident on December 17, 2005. The GVN will launch the second poultry vaccination campaign on February 16, using 150 million doses of bird flu vaccines imported from China. End Summary. ¶2. (U) As of February 10, 2006: -- No human AI deaths since October 29 -- No new human AI cases in the past 85 days -- No AI outbreaks in poultry since the last reported incident on Dec. 17, 2005 in Cao Bang Province ¶3. (U) Local press announced that the National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza and Highly Pathologic Diseases announced on February 8 that no human cases reported since mid-November and no outbreaks among poultry for almost two months. The Committee also announced that eight patients suspected of bird flu infection in Ha Tay, Phu Tho, and Hanoi in late January have tested negative for the virus. ¶4. (U) According to local press, the GVN will launch the second poultry vaccination campaign on February 16. Deputy Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Animal Health (DAH) Huynh Van Nam warned that the Tet-related increase in trade, slaughter and consumption of poultry combined with the current cold weather in northern Vietnam is favorable to the spreading of the virus. Mr. Nam also reported to the press that achievements to date could be marred if newly hatched poultry were not vaccinated. Mr. Nam highlighted the difficulty in monitoring the country's 60 million domesticated waterfowl that are nomadic flocks. As reported previously (reftel A and B),DAH has imported 150 million doses of bird flu vaccines from C na. ¶5. (U) Embassystaff observed during the Tet holiday that despie bans on live chickens and ducks in Hanoi, many wre in evidence during Tet. Clearly the Vietnames have not lost their preference for freshly slauhtered poultry and controlling private sales andtransport remains difficult. While sold by streetside vendors, there was little evidence of live poultry being sold in large public markets. ¶6. (U) Post did not submit an AI weekly report for week of February 3, 2006 due to the Tet holiday. BOARDMAN