Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS1620
2006-03-14 14:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

AVIAN FLU: U/S DOBRIANSKY REVIEWS EFFORTS TO

Tags:  TBIO KSCA KFLU UNESCO 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 001620 

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO

STATE FOR IO/EDA SHARON KOTOK, IO/T AMY BRIDGMAN
IO/UNESCO KEVIN PILZ, OES HAROLD FOSTER, BARRIE RIPIN,
OES/STAS ANDREW W. REYNOLDS, OES/IHA JOHN S. BLODGETT,
OES SUSAN POVENMIRE, G JOAQUIN FERRAO, JEFFREY MIOTKE
STATE FOR NSC GENE WHITNEY
STATE FOR NSF INTERNATIONAL OFFICE
STATE FOR USDA PETER FERNANDEZ, RON DEHAVEN, AND
MICHAEL J. DAVID
STATE FOR USAID DENNIS CARROLL


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KSCA KFLU UNESCO
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: U/S DOBRIANSKY REVIEWS EFFORTS TO
COUNTER THREAT WITH WORLD ANIMAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION
(OIE) DIRECTOR GENERAL

REF: A. PARIS 217 B. PARIS 1209

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 001620

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO

STATE FOR IO/EDA SHARON KOTOK, IO/T AMY BRIDGMAN
IO/UNESCO KEVIN PILZ, OES HAROLD FOSTER, BARRIE RIPIN,
OES/STAS ANDREW W. REYNOLDS, OES/IHA JOHN S. BLODGETT,
OES SUSAN POVENMIRE, G JOAQUIN FERRAO, JEFFREY MIOTKE
STATE FOR NSC GENE WHITNEY
STATE FOR NSF INTERNATIONAL OFFICE
STATE FOR USDA PETER FERNANDEZ, RON DEHAVEN, AND
MICHAEL J. DAVID
STATE FOR USAID DENNIS CARROLL


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KSCA KFLU UNESCO
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: U/S DOBRIANSKY REVIEWS EFFORTS TO
COUNTER THREAT WITH WORLD ANIMAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION
(OIE) DIRECTOR GENERAL

REF: A. PARIS 217 B. PARIS 1209


1. Summary and Introduction: International Efforts to
Counter Avian Flu were the focus of U/S for Global
Affairs Paula Dobrianksy's February 28 meeting with
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Director
General Bernard Vallat. Stressing White House
leadership on this issue, U/S Dobriansky briefed Vallat
on the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic
Influenza. Vallat discussed his organization's efforts
to encourage countries to develop good governance
measures that will make possible early detection of new
cases of avian flu, and rapid reaction (REF A). He
also briefed on the OIE's work with the FAO, saying the
two organizations have agreed that the OIE will take
the lead at the global and regional levels, while the
FAO will focus on the national level. USUNESCO Deputy
Chief of Mission, G Senior Advisor Ferrao, and USUNESCO
Science Officer (note taker) also attended the meeting.
Vallat was accompanied by Advisor Alejandro Thiermann.
Carefully targeted USG support to the OIE, based on
interagency consensus, will advance US interests in
combating avian flu in a proactive way, and in laying
the groundwork to counter future threats. End Summary
and Introduction.


2. U/S Dobriansky opened by stressing White House
interest in avian flu. Vallat stressed the
unprecedented challenge posed by globalization:
pathogens now have greater opportunity to travel and
cross with other pathogens. He agreed with U/S
Dobriansky that birds have always been prey to viruses;
what's new is the rapidity with which the virus evolves
in wild birds. At present, Vallat stressed, the
ability of the virus to infect humans is low; it poses
a risk to animals, not humans. We must take steps to
prevent a pandemic, Vallat declared, highlighting the

correlation between the number of viruses circulating
in animals and the probability of a virus mutating and
being transmitted to humans. What we need are new
policies worldwide.

OIE Priorities: Good Governance via Systematic
Assessment


3. Queried on OIE priorities, Vallat stressed that the
OIE mission is to ensure that all member states have
appropriate governance mechanisms, including
legislation, organization and resources to detect avian
flu quickly and to move rapidly to the confinement and
killing of infected animals, and then systematic
disinfection of the environment within 3 kilometers.
If all countries are able to do this, we can eliminate
avian flu. However, of 167 OIE member states, 40 do
not manage the problem according to OIE
recommendations. If even one country is not able to
control the spread of the disease, this will constitute
a potential reservoir of contagion for the entire
planet.


4. At the January pledging conference in Beijing,
Vallat reported, the OIE succeeded in convincing
participants that appropriate governance measures
constitute an international public good. Wealthy
countries -- for their own self-protection -- and
financial institutions must devote resources to
developing infrastructure in poor countries because
poorer countries simply can't. This must be a priority
if a pandemic is to be forestalled; it makes more sense
to invest in appropriate infrastructure than in masks.


5. The OIE, in conjunction with the IICA (Inter-
American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture),has
developed a tool to identify gaps in veterinary
services. At the request of the World Bank - which has
made this assessment a prerequisite for World Bank
investment in veterinary services -- the OIE is
compiling a list of experts who can help countries
apply the tool to assess their needs and identify gaps,
Vallat reported. The OIE regional office in Bulgaria
is ready to prepare national plans, he noted.
Acceptance of the tool constitutes a victory for public
health worldwide, but it will be impossible to apply
without a presence at the country level worldwide. It
will be necessary to assess, for example, whether more
labs are needed, or appropriate laws and regulations.
Another key element is workforce succession plans.
Vallat noted that some advocate "blue helmets" to help
countries manage the disease once it spreads to humans.
But more important is a national commitment to
implementing relevant existing standards.


6. Vallat stressed the importance of private-public
partnerships, of involving farmers and supermarkets on
issues relating to food safety guarantees, as well as
multinational companies. He noted that McDonalds has
been particularly enthusiastic.

FAO Works at Country Level, OIE regionally and globally


7. Queried on the division of responsibilities between
the World Organization for Animal Health and the FAO,
Vallat explained that the role of the latter is to
"fight hunger and feed humanity"; its action is focused
on developing countries. The OIE's focus is not
limited to developing countries; its mission is to set
"standards for everyone."


8. The FAO is a useful partner for the OIE at the
national level, with human resources to help poor
countries implement new programs. The FAO will play an
important role in applying the tool to assess existing
infrastructure at the country level: the FAO can help
identify key private and public players; the assessment
will be performed in the presence of FAO officials; and
the FAO will work on in-country implementation.


9. The OIE's mandate is to publish norms and manage
capacity building, as well as to explain standards and
how they should be implemented at the national level.
Implementing standards will enhance international
market access for developing countries. The OIE also
takes the lead in designing policies. But given the
OIE's small size and budget, its work is confined to
the global and regional levels; the FAO must take the
lead at the national level to implement programs
designed with OIE support. The OIE budget does not
allow it to undertake additional actions linked to the
current crisis.


10. The OIE operates five regional offices that
participate in an OIE/FAO/ WHO partnership; currently,
the FAO contribution is in the area of plant
production.
The OIE and the FAO collaborated on a funding request
at Beijing for the design and coordination of regional
policy on avian flu via the five regional offices. 95
percent of the funding will go to the FAO, because most
of the money will be spent at the national level.

Potential Areas for US Engagement


11. U/S Dobriansky queried Vallat on potential areas
of U.S.-OIE cooperation, as well as on OIE priority
needs. Vallat reported that the OIE has taken initial
contacts with both USAID and US Department of
Agriculture. A potential area of cooperation would be
application of the tool to evaluate the infrastructure
of individual countries, and the identification of
appropriate experts who could help apply the tool in
pilot countries.


12. Vallat suggested a targeted approach. The U.S.
might want to select one or two regions on which to
focus, providing support for regional activities,
technical support and funding for meetings. A limited
focus will ensure that US assistance efforts have a
higher profile.


13. Vallat highlighted the targeted approaches taken
by Japan (who donated 8 million dollars to focus on
Asia) and France (for coordination of a policy forum at
the global level). The EC would like to focus on
Africa; he noted that a group to enhance Africa
livestock - ALIVE, uniting the OIE, FAO, World Bank
with USAID participation - already exists. Vallat said
that he had proposed that the EC provide resources to
ALIVE for avian flu efforts.


14. U/S Dobriansky briefed Vallat on the international
partnership on avian and pandemic influenza announced
by President Bush in September 2005. U/S Dobriansky
explained that the partnership serves to give
prominence to this critical issue, opening doors for
specialized international organizations.

Vaccination: Not the "Golden Rule"


15. Queried by U/S Dobriansky on his views on
vaccination as a means of countering avian influenza,
Vallat responded that vaccination is a tool to be used
when it is not possible to implement the "golden rule,"
killing exposed fowl, followed by disinfection. The
problem with vaccination is that the virus can remain
alive in the population, but not display symptoms.
When killing birds is not possible, vaccination can be
a transitional means to reduce the virus load, before
return to a policy of culling. Vallat cited Viet Nam
as an example. Over the next one to two years, Viet
Nam will conduct a vaccination campaign as it invests
in infrastructure, and then turn to eradication of the
virus using "classical methods." China will follow a
similar course, Vallat said, observing that China's
size and decentralization pose problems in managing
eradication efforts; that said, transparency in China
has improved since a Director General for veterinary
services -- independent of the production and export
office - was named to a leading role. Vaccination will
be an essential tool in Africa, Vallat said, predicting
it would be a while before the continent could return
to "classical methods."


16. On the Technical Level, Vallat explained,
vaccination is costly, requiring two injections per
bird, timed three weeks apart. Birds are not safe for
consumption for three weeks after vaccination. OIE
standards require that governments assume heavy
surveillance of vaccination efforts, and offer
compensation to encourage farmers to come forward.
Every vaccination program should include an exit
strategy, Vallat concluded.
OLIVER