Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU1377
2006-05-31 08:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE FOR MAY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKT #1377 1510811 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 310811Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1659 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9809 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 9780 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2659 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 4675 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4421 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4074
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001377
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, OES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAGR EAID KSCA SOCI TBIO PREL WHO NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE FOR MAY
REFS: A. KATHMANDU 927
B. KATHMANDU 744
WORLD BANK PLANS TO SUPPORT NEPAL'S AVIAN FLU PREPAREDNESS
---------------------------------------------
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001377
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, OES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAGR EAID KSCA SOCI TBIO PREL WHO NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE FOR MAY
REFS: A. KATHMANDU 927
B. KATHMANDU 744
WORLD BANK PLANS TO SUPPORT NEPAL'S AVIAN FLU PREPAREDNESS
--------------
1. (SBU) At the May 24 meeting of Post's avian influenza
working group chaired by the A/DCM, Emboff reported that a
World Bank (WB) "pre-appraisal" mission (team) decided in
April to use USD 10-15 million of their normal annual
assistance to Nepal to fund a three-year project to
support the Government of Nepal's (GON) avian influenza
(AI) preparedness plan (ref A). The project will include
comprehensive assistance for both animal and human
surveillance and control. The WB expects to use the funds
for some combination of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
viral specificity testing materials, compensation for
culled birds, and/or construction of a bio-safety
laboratory. The WB and GON plan to work out the final
details of the project.
HUMAN FLU TESTING PROJECT TO BEGIN IN JUNE
--------------
2. (SBU) In June 2006, Post will begin a cooperative
project with the health unit of Embassy Bangkok and the
Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Science
(AFRIMS) in Bangkok to do laboratory diagnostic testing of
samples from human patients in Nepal who exhibit flu-like
symptoms. The Department of Defense (DOD) will fund this
USD 500,000 project (ref B),which will allow the testing
to take only two to three days instead of two to three
weeks.
FIRST SHIPMENT OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ARRIVES
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) In April 2006, the Ministry of Agriculture
formally requested 2,000 sets of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) from USAID/Nepal (ref A). The first 500
sets of PPE recently arrived and are waiting customs
clearance at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
BRIEF GON REPORTING LAPSE, BUT STILL NO AI CASES
-------------- ---
4. (SBU) While GON surveillance reporting lapsed during
the April 6-24 civil unrest, it is now back in place.
There have been no confirmed cases of AI in Nepal.
NEPALI DOCTOR PARTICIPATES IN USDA TRAINING
--------------
5. (SBU) Post coordinated travel arrangements for Dr.
Rebati Man Shrestha, Chief, Central Veterinary Laboratory,
who participated in a USDA-funded Avian Influenza
Diagnostic Training Course in Ames, Iowa, May 15-19.
Shrestha expressed his deep appreciation for the training.
He noted that learning about real-time PCR testing was the
most beneficial part of the training. Shrestha lamented
however, that Nepal did not have the technology to do real-
time PCR testing. He reported that he had learned that AI
testing methods used in Nepal were good, although Nepal
used different re-agents.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) Due to civil unrest in April and the lack of new
AI cases in neighboring India, AI was not in the Nepali
media spotlight during April and May.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, OES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAGR EAID KSCA SOCI TBIO PREL WHO NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE FOR MAY
REFS: A. KATHMANDU 927
B. KATHMANDU 744
WORLD BANK PLANS TO SUPPORT NEPAL'S AVIAN FLU PREPAREDNESS
--------------
1. (SBU) At the May 24 meeting of Post's avian influenza
working group chaired by the A/DCM, Emboff reported that a
World Bank (WB) "pre-appraisal" mission (team) decided in
April to use USD 10-15 million of their normal annual
assistance to Nepal to fund a three-year project to
support the Government of Nepal's (GON) avian influenza
(AI) preparedness plan (ref A). The project will include
comprehensive assistance for both animal and human
surveillance and control. The WB expects to use the funds
for some combination of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
viral specificity testing materials, compensation for
culled birds, and/or construction of a bio-safety
laboratory. The WB and GON plan to work out the final
details of the project.
HUMAN FLU TESTING PROJECT TO BEGIN IN JUNE
--------------
2. (SBU) In June 2006, Post will begin a cooperative
project with the health unit of Embassy Bangkok and the
Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Science
(AFRIMS) in Bangkok to do laboratory diagnostic testing of
samples from human patients in Nepal who exhibit flu-like
symptoms. The Department of Defense (DOD) will fund this
USD 500,000 project (ref B),which will allow the testing
to take only two to three days instead of two to three
weeks.
FIRST SHIPMENT OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ARRIVES
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) In April 2006, the Ministry of Agriculture
formally requested 2,000 sets of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) from USAID/Nepal (ref A). The first 500
sets of PPE recently arrived and are waiting customs
clearance at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
BRIEF GON REPORTING LAPSE, BUT STILL NO AI CASES
-------------- ---
4. (SBU) While GON surveillance reporting lapsed during
the April 6-24 civil unrest, it is now back in place.
There have been no confirmed cases of AI in Nepal.
NEPALI DOCTOR PARTICIPATES IN USDA TRAINING
--------------
5. (SBU) Post coordinated travel arrangements for Dr.
Rebati Man Shrestha, Chief, Central Veterinary Laboratory,
who participated in a USDA-funded Avian Influenza
Diagnostic Training Course in Ames, Iowa, May 15-19.
Shrestha expressed his deep appreciation for the training.
He noted that learning about real-time PCR testing was the
most beneficial part of the training. Shrestha lamented
however, that Nepal did not have the technology to do real-
time PCR testing. He reported that he had learned that AI
testing methods used in Nepal were good, although Nepal
used different re-agents.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) Due to civil unrest in April and the lack of new
AI cases in neighboring India, AI was not in the Nepali
media spotlight during April and May.
MORIARTY