VIETNAM - APRIL 6 AVIAN INFLUENZA REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000800 SIPDIS STATE FOR G, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, EAP/EX, EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, INR, OES/STC (PBATES),OES/IHA (DSINGER AND NCOMELLA),AND MED STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH (DCARROLL, SCLEMENTS AND PCHAPLIN) STATE PASS TO USTR (ELENA BRYAN) STATE PASS TO HHS/OGHA (WSTIEGER, EELVANDER AND ABHAT) USDA PASS TO APHIS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (LSTERN) BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID (MFRIEDMAN, JMACARTHUR AND MBRADY) ROME FOR FAO SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KFLU AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR SOCI VM SUBJECT: VIETNAM - APRIL 6 AVIAN INFLUENZA REPORT REF: HANOI 685 AND PREVIOUS HANOI 00000800 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Summary. There have been no new human Avian Influenza (AI) deaths since late October 2005 and no human cases since November 9, 2005. The Government of Vietnam (GVN) continues to report no AI outbreaks in poultry since the last reported incident on December 17, 2005. The GVN announced that six million poultry have received vaccinations in this first round in 2006, which aims to immunize 100 million poultry by the end of May. The Ambassador sent an AI preparedness letter to American citizens via the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City consular warden system. The letter encourages private American citizens to consider taking a range of AI-related precautions by sharing the Mission's plans and actions taken to prepare itself for a serious AI outbreak. USAID will participate in a World Bank joint assessment mission for Vietnam's AI Integrated National Operational Work Program, beginning April 19. End Summary. ¶2. (U) As of April 5, 2006: -- No human AI deaths since October 29, 2005 -- No new human AI cases since November 9, 2005 -- No AI outbreaks in poultry since the last reported incident on Dec. 17, 2005 in Cao Bang Province ¶3. (U) On March 30, state-owned press announced that six million poultry had received vaccination shots in the first round of vaccination in 2006, which aims to immunize 100 million poultry by the end of May. The report further stated that more than 120 million poultry were vaccinated in the last five months of 2005, which reportedly played a crucial role in containing bird flu outbreaks among the poultry. Home to eight million backyard poultry farmers, Vietnam has a total poultry population of nearly 220 million. ¶4. (U) Separately, local press reported that Vietnam imported 150 million doses of poultry vaccines, at a cost of USD 1 million, from China. (NOTE: Post believes the price may actually be higher than reported. End Note.) The report also stated that in 2005 Vietnam imported 340 million doses of vaccines from China and 6 million doses each from the Netherlands and France to vaccinate more than 120 million birds. ¶5. (U) On April 5, the Ambassador sent an AI preparedness letter to American citizens via the consular warden system. The letter provides information on medical facilities in Vietnam designated for care of foreigners in case of an outbreak and stockpiling of food, water and provisions. It encourages AI planning by the private U.S. community by sharing the Mission's plans and actions taken to prepare ourselves for a serious AI outbreak and provides several useful websites. The actions highlighted in the letter include staying educated, getting vaccinated, ensuring staff have access to Tamiflu treatment, preparing stockpiles of food and water, and developing plans for hospitalization, home care and monitoring for family members and staff. The letter also reiterated that the Mission does not have the HANOI 00000800 002.2 OF 002 resources or legal authority to provide Tamiflu to private American citizens. ¶6. (U) Ms. Molly Brady, Avian Influenza Advisor at the USAID Regional Development Mission/Asia in Bangkok, will participate in a World Bank joint assessment mission for Vietnam's AI Integrated National Operational Work Program, beginning April 19. The program will address the need to transition from emergency response to medium and long-term integrated sector development for disease control programs in both poultry and human populations. There is also an urgent need to facilitate the rehabilitation of the poultry sector at all levels of commercial production of meat and eggs and to ensure food security for small-scale rural poor. MARINE