HKG On Indonesia AI Cases, Business Continuity

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HONG KONG 002199 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/ANP AND INR/EAP STATE FOR EAP/EX, EAP/EP TWANG, EAP/CM KBENNETT, GWARD STATE FOR G/AIAG JLANGE, HFOSTER, RFENDRICK STATE FOR M/MED ADN M/MEDEX PETER WOOD HHS FOR OGHA -- STEIGER, ELVANDER, BHAT BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC USDA FO DU/US LAMBERT BEIJING FOR DSELIGSOHN, CSHAPIRO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMED ECON KSTH TBIO KFLU EAGR HK CH SUBJECT: HKG On Indonesia AI Cases, Business Continuity Plans SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) Controller Dr. P.Y. Leung told Econoff that a preliminary Hong Kong Government (HKG) analysis of a reported cluster of human H5N1 avian influenza (AI) cases in Indonesia found only minor changes to the virus. Leung said that the HKG is waiting for an analysis of the extent of contact between individual cases in the cluster. Unless there is evidence that the humans can now transmit the virus to others with less contact and greater efficiency, the HKG is "not too worried" about the situation. Leung also informed Econoff that the HKG will reverse its previous policy and start advising private sector corporations to stockpile anti-viral medication, including oseltamivir (Tamiflu). This new policy is part of an ongoing HKG effort to encourage the formation of business continuity plans in private sector companies and organizations in Hong Kong. End Summary AI Cluster in Indonesia -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On May 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the eight-person cluster of AI cases recently discovered in Indonesia may have been caused by human-to- human transmission. CHP Controller Dr. P.Y. Leung told Econoff that the HKG had completed a preliminary analysis of the virus samples from the Indonesian cluster and had found only minor changes in the genetic structure of the virus. Although there seemed to be no genetic evidence of a mutation in the virus that would allow it to be transmitted efficiently between humans, the size of the cluster and the possibility that infections had occurred with relatively low levels of contact between patients were causes for concern. Leung affirmed that as long as there are no further related cases in the next three weeks, the HKG will "not be too worried" about the situation. Tamiflu for Companies -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Leung went on to inform Econoff that the HKG is planning to reverse its long-standing policy on discouraging private stockpiles of anti-viral medications and start urging private sector corporations in Hong Kong to stockpile various anti-viral medications, including Tamiflu. Roche is now producing enough Tamiflu to meet both government requests (including a newly planned HKG purchase of "several million" tablets) and burgeoning corporate sector demand for the anti-viral medication. ¶4. (SBU) The CHP will publish HKG guidelines for the purchase and use of anti-viral medications, including suggestions that the anti-virals mostly be kept for treatment of pandemic flu cases. Leung noted that only doctors would be allowed to purchase the new stocks of Tamiflu; this move does not mean that the medication will be more widely available to the general public. Leung said that the HKG is also in the process of purchasing amantadine, a flu medication that has proven to be effective in fighting H5N1 infections when used together with Tamiflu. Business Continuity Plans -------------- ¶5. (SBU) This new policy is part of an ongoing CHP effort to encourage private sector corporations and managers of essential services (power generation, transport, etc.) to develop robust and realistic business continuity plans. Earlier in May, the HKG strongly supported a Hong Kong Trade Development Council/APEC Business Advisory Council organized "Conference on Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Preparedness for Avian Influenza." At the meeting, APEC Health Task Force Vice-Chair Dr. Li Shichuo noted that a recent informal American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong survey had found that almost 60% of the companies surveyed had a designated action officer for AI preparedness and clearly stated, realistic plans of action. In contrast, Li said, a recent Deloitte & Touche survey of businesses in the HONG KONG 00002199 002 OF 002 U.S. found that approximately two-thirds of the companies surveyed did not have specific plans or designated action officers. ¶6. (SBU) Hospital Authority Deputy Director Dr. Liu Shao Haei also highlighted the importance of having good business continuity plans, pointing out that in an actual pandemic situation it would take the international community between 12-18 months to produce enough vaccine to affect the course of the pandemic. Liu said that right now, the most important aspect of pandemic planning for the HKG is surveillance. He said that the HKG takes the following factors into account when conducting AI surveillance: Fever, Travel History, Occupation (exposure to birds?), Contact with other patients, and whether they are part of a Cluster. Liu asserted that a properly working surveillance system was much more important than building large stockpiles of anti-viral medications - "Silence causes fear; silence causes harm!" CUNNINGHAM