INDONESIA - JULY 18 AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI) UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 008955 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/IET, A/MED AND S/ES-O DEPT FOR G/AIAG/JLANGE AND RFENDRICK DEPT FOR OES/FO, OES/EID, OES/PCI, OES/STC AND OES/IHA DEPT PASS TO USDA/FAS/DLP/HWETZEL AND FAS/ICD/PETTRIE DEPT ALSO PASS TO USDA/FAS/FAA/DYOUNG AND USDA/APHIS DEPT ALSO PASS TO USAID/ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/WSTEIGER/ABHAT/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH PARIS FOR FAS/AG MINISTER COUNSELOR CANBERRA FOR APHIS ROME FOR FAO NSC FOR JMELINE BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID/RDM/A, APHIS/CARDENAS BEIJING FOR APHIS/GREENE USPACOM ALSO PASS TO J07 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AMED CASC EAGR AMGT PGOV ID KFLU SUBJECT: INDONESIA - JULY 18 AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI) UPDATE REF: A) Jakarta 8621 and previous B) Jakarta 8794 JAKARTA 00008955 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. As of July 18, data from the Mission's Naval Medical Research Center (NAMRU-2) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) show 43 confirmed deaths from Avian Influenza. Once the WHO posts laboratory confirmation results on its website, Indonesia should overtake Vietnam for the world lead in human AI fatalities, likely sparking another wave of negative press coverage. The Minister of Agriculture fired Director for Animal Health Dr. Sjamsul Bahri on July 12 for "poor performance" in the control of AI, and the Ministry named Dr. Musny Suatmodjo from the West Java provincial sub office of Animal Health to replace him the next day. In the past two weeks, the Ambassador has raised AI in separate meetings with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Presidential Advisor Dino Djalal, and Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono. The Indonesian Veterinarians Association (PDHI) criticized the GOI for allowing provinces to vary their approaches to handling AI during its July 11-13 national congress. End Summary. Change of Leadership at Ministry of Agriculture -------------- -- ¶2. (SBU) On July 12, Agriculture Minister Apriyantono replaced Dr. Sjamsul Bahri as Director of Animal Health because of "poor performance" in the campaign against the spread of AI among animal populations. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) inaugurated Dr. Musny Suatmodjo to replace Bahri on July 13. Suatmodjo is the former head of the West Java provincial sub office of Animal Health, and is not well known among our AI contacts. Bahri will remain in the MOA but will now be in charge of breeding development for livestock and poultry. Diplomatic Efforts on AI Continue -------------- ¶3. (SBU) During the past two weeks, the Ambassador has raised the importance of strengthening Indonesia's AI response in meetings with Vice President Jusuf Kalla on July 5, Presidential Advisor Dino Djalal on July 6, and Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono on July 12. In each of the meetings, the Ambassador noted the rising level of concern from U.S. and international experts regarding the apparent inability of Indonesia to contain the virus in its poultry sector. Kalla and Djalal were both well briefed on the issue and took note of the Ambassador's remarks; Apriyantono was less well informed and noted incorrectly that the June 21-23 "Technical Review and International Expert Consultation Meeting" in Jakarta had concluded Indonesia is "on the right track" (ref B). Indonesian Veterinarians Criticize GOI -------------- ¶4. (U) The Indonesian Veterinarians Association (PDHI) JAKARTA 00008955 002.2 OF 003 criticized the GOI for allowing provinces to vary their approaches for handling avian influenza during its 15th national congress, held July 11-13. PDHI Chairman Budi Tri Akso reportedly told reporters on July 11 that "such a variety of approaches has proven to be ineffective because it allowed the virus to reemerge in regions that already culled their sick chickens." The PDHI recommended that the government use the more than 10,000 veterinarians in the country to help eradicate H5N1 infection in the nation's provinces before it evolves into a form that can be transmissible between humans. However, a senior Ministry of Agriculture official rejected the PHDI's statements and argued that the GOI developed standard procedures to deal with bird flu in 2003, although manuals describing the procedures were not printed until a few months ago. Human AI Case Profile -------------- ¶5. (SBU) On 16 July, NAMRU-2 and MOH tests indicated probable H5N1 infection in a 43 year-old male from East Jakarta who died on July 12 at Budi Asih Hosptital. Additionally, the US CDC has confirmed H5N1 infection in a three year-old girl who died in Tangerang last week. With the death of the 43 year-old male, NAMRU-2 and MOH data now show 43 confirmed or probable AI deaths in Indonesia since July 2005. Once the WHO or CDC posts laboratory confirmations on their websites, Indonesia should overtake Vietnam for the world lead in human AI fatalities, likely sparking another wave of negative press coverage. On July 17, the English language daily carried a front-page article noting Indonesia would soon pass Vietnam and criticizing the GOI's performance on AI. ¶6. (SBU) NAMRU-2 data indicates the following AI-related case profile as of July 17: -- Number of laboratory confirmed (positive PCR and/or serology) human AI cases: 55, of which 43 have been fatal (case fatality rate of 78 percent). -- Number of probable AI cases (awaiting WHO Laboratory confirmation): 5, with 3 deaths (fatality rate of 60 percent). -- Number of cases awaiting verification by the US CDC: 1. -- Number of possible AI untested cases under investigation (last 30 days): approximately 10. ¶7. (SBU) Note: NAMRU-2 data correspond with Ministry of Health data but may vary at times with AI case figures presented on the official WHO website, which usually lag NAMRU-2 data by one week. The WHO website (last updated on July 14) currently notes 53 human AI cases to date in Indonesia with 41 deaths. WHO figures can be accessed at www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza. JAKARTA 00008955 003.2 OF 003 Pascoe