INDONESIA - JULY 27 AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI) UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 009515

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/LAIDIG
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/DHANNAPEL
ROME FOR FAO
NSC FOR JMELINE
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID/RDM/A
USPACOM ALSO PASS TO J07

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO AMED CASC EAGR AMGT PGOV ID KFLU
SUBJECT: INDONESIA - JULY 27 AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI) UPDATE

REF: A) Jakarta 09334 B) Jakarta 08955 and previous

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1.(SBU) Summary. Minister of Health Dr. Siti Fadilah Supari
told the Ambassador on July 24 that the Government of
Indonesia (GOI) is pleased with USG collaboration on various
health challenges such as avian influenza (AI) and polio.
She thanked USAID and the Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-
2) for their support. A team from the Singaporean Ministry
of Health met with GOI officials on July 24 and discussed
the trilateral Tangerang pilot program. The Indonesian
Ministry of Health is finalizing its application for funds
through the CDC RFA CI06-607 to support its avian influenza
program. The Jakarta media has reported that Indonesia has
overtaken Vietnam and now leads the world in the number of
AI human deaths. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
confirmed H5N1 infection in a 44-year-old male from East
Jakarta who died in Jakarta on July 12. As of July 26, data
from the NAMRU-2 and the Ministry of Health (MOH) show 56
cases of avian influenza with 44 confirmed deaths. End
Summary.

Minister of Health Praises USG Collaboration
--------------

2. (SBU) Minister of Health Dr. Siti Fadilah Supari told the
Ambassador on July 24 that the GOI is pleased with USG
collaboration on various health challenges such as avian
influenza (AI) and polio. She thanked USAID and NAMRU-2 for
their support. The Ambassador conveyed his appreciation for
the Ministry's cooperation and transparency shown in
combating avian influenza in the human population but noted
his continued concern about the Ministry of Agriculture's
lack of effectiveness in controlling the disease in the
animal population. He emphasized that good cooperation and
sharing of samples will be crucial to managing the AI
challenge. The Ambassador explained that AI in Indonesia is
being closely followed in Washington. He noted that USAID
is finalizing the $11.5 million in assistance promised by
Secretary Rice in March 2006 and that the USG will continue

SIPDIS
to provide other technical assistance from the Centers for
Disease Control, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
(Note: Previously reported in Ref A.)

Singaporean Ministry of Health Team Discusses Tangerang
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) A team from the Singaporean Ministry of Health met
with GOI officials on July 24 and discussed the trilateral
Tangerang pilot program, according to a Singaporean Embassy
source. The team had separate meetings with Dr. Bayu
Krisnamutki, Dr. I. Nyoman Kandun, and unnamed officials at
DEPLU (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The source noted that
a letter of intent (LOI) between the Singaporean Government
and GOI has not been finalized, but that the two governments
continue to develop a draft. During the meeting with the
Singaporeans, Bayu expressed interest in pursuing a "soft
launch" for Tangerang, independent of finalization of LOIs
between the three governments. Bayu mentioned three
potential areas for Singapore and USG collaboration: a)
training for diagnostics in Tangerang; b) workshop for

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dealing with AI victims; c) implementation of a public
awareness campaign.

MOH Finalizes CDC Application for Funds
--------------


4. (U) The Indonesian Ministry of Health is finalizing its
application for funds through the CDC RFA CI06-607 to
support its AI program. The MOH will be proposing
activities under all three pillars of the President's
National Strategy. Under "Preparedness and Communication"
(Pillar 1),the MOH will identify, train and support
Government spokespersons at national, provincial and
district levels; and will also distribute avian influenza
prevention, treatment, and surveillance guidelines to health
workers at all levels throughout the country. Under
"Surveillance and Detection" (Pillar 2),the MOH proposes to
complement the contributions being made by USAID to
implement Integrated (human & animal) Disease Surveillance
and Community-based Surveillance for AI. Under "Response
and Containment" (Pillar 3),the MOH will focus on
establishing, training and supporting national, provincial
and district Rapid Response Teams.

Human AI Case Profile
--------------


5. (SBU) The CDC confirmed H5N1 infection in a 44-year-old
male from East Jakarta who died in Jakarta on July 12,
raising the number of confirmed deaths to 44. This case had
previously been identified by NAMRU-2 and the NIHRD
(National Institute of Health Research and Development)
laboratory in Jakarta. The media in Jakarta reported that
Indonesia has overtaken Vietnam and now leads the world in
number of human deaths. NAMRU-2 reports no new probable
cases since last reftel. NAMRU-2 data indicates the
following AI-related case profile as of July 27:

-- Number of laboratory confirmed (positive PCR and/or
serology) human AI cases: 56, of which 44 have been fatal
(case fatality rate of 79 percent).

-- Number of probable AI cases (awaiting WHO Laboratory
confirmation): 4, with 2 deaths (fatality rate of 50
percent).

-- Number of cases awaiting verification by the US CDC:0.

-- Number of possible AI untested cases under investigation
(last 30 days): approximately 9.


6. (SBU) Note: NAMRU-2 data corresponds with Ministry of
Health data but may vary at times with AI case figures
presented on the official World Health Organization (WHO)
website, which usually lags NAMRU-2 data by one week. The
WHO website (last updated on July 26) currently notes 54
human AI cases in Indonesia with 42 deaths. WHO figures can
be accessed at www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza.


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PASCOE