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