Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DHAKA608
2007-04-15 08:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
BIRD FLU: BANGLADESH PERMITS INTERNATIONAL
how-toVZCZCXRO5990 PP RUEHCI DE RUEHKA #0608 1050837 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 150837Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3802 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 9821 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 1597 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 9035 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 7874 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 2531 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J2/J5 PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J2/J4/J5 PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000608
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO AIAG/HOLLIS SUMMERS, AIAG/TONY
NEWTON AND AIAG/NICHOLAS STUDZINSKI
NEW DELHI PLEAES PASS TO FAS/OLIVER FLAKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2017
TAGS: TBIO KFLU EAID PREL PGOV BG
SUBJECT: BIRD FLU: BANGLADESH PERMITS INTERNATIONAL
ASSISTANCE
REF: A. DHAKA 569
B. DHAKA 533
C. AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi; Reason 1.4(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000608
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO AIAG/HOLLIS SUMMERS, AIAG/TONY
NEWTON AND AIAG/NICHOLAS STUDZINSKI
NEW DELHI PLEAES PASS TO FAS/OLIVER FLAKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2017
TAGS: TBIO KFLU EAID PREL PGOV BG
SUBJECT: BIRD FLU: BANGLADESH PERMITS INTERNATIONAL
ASSISTANCE
REF: A. DHAKA 569
B. DHAKA 533
C. AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi; Reason 1.4(d)
1. (SBU) Summary. The GOB agreed April 9 to allow foreign
technical advisors to assist with the Avian Influenza
response. This breakthrough opens the door for multilateral
and bilateral assistance to implement the recommendations
reported in ref (A). END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Early Assessment: Within days of the March 22 public
announcement of the outbreak, the US Department of
Agriculture proposed sending two avian influenza specialists
from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization's Crisis
Management Center. The GOB initially rejected this offer, but
has subsequently reconsidered. On April 4 Dr. Laurence
Gleeson, Regional Manager of the Food and Agriculture
Organization's Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal
Diseases visited Bangladesh to provide a technical assessment
and recommendations (septel). Although Dr. Gleeson's April 7
report to the GOB was coolly received at first by Advisor for
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Dr. C. S. Karim, on April
9 the GOB authorized the rapid deployment of foreign avian
influenza experts to provide technical assistance.
3. (SBU) Donor Actions: USAID Mission Director Carlson met
with Ministry of Finance officials to follow up on the
Ambassador's offer to use local currency accounts which could
be used in the avian influenza response. This, combined with
FAO's Dr. Gleeson briefing his assessment and recommendations
to Dr. Karim and a World Bank representative meeting with the
Chief Adviser which touched on avian influenza, were key
events where the donor community directly interacted with the
GOB. Several one-on-one interactions relating to avian
influenza also played a part in clearing this logjam,
including USAID Mission Director Roger Carlson's meeting with
a World Bank regional representative, as well as the
Ambassador's meeting with the UN Development Program's
Resident Representative, and UN Resident Coordinator, Renata
Lok Dessallien.
4. (C) Internal Pressure: Advisor Karim chairs the National
Advisory Committee under Bangladesh's National Response Plan
until a human H5N1 infection is confirmed, when the Health
Advisor Dr. Maj. Gen. A.S.M. Matiur Rahman (retired) becomes
chairman. Dr. Rahman reportedly wanted to get the donor
community more involved in the avian influenza response from
the start. Rahman's preference for working along the lines
favored by the donor community -- protecting humans by
working aggressively to prevent H5N1's spread among animals
-- may be a part of the reason for the GOB's new approach.
5. (SBU) USG Next Steps: USAID is moving to increase
capacity here by bringing veterinary epidemiologist Dr.
Zandra Andre, who visited Bangladesh in December 2006. She
will likely focus on "train the trainer" events for personal
protective equipment, technical review of proposals USAID has
received for avian influenza response, and technical
assistance through work with FAO's Crisis Management Center
experts on the outbreak's epidemiology. DAO is working to
bring subject matter experts to Bangladesh this summer to
work with the Bangladesh military regarding avian influenza.
BUTENIS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO AIAG/HOLLIS SUMMERS, AIAG/TONY
NEWTON AND AIAG/NICHOLAS STUDZINSKI
NEW DELHI PLEAES PASS TO FAS/OLIVER FLAKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2017
TAGS: TBIO KFLU EAID PREL PGOV BG
SUBJECT: BIRD FLU: BANGLADESH PERMITS INTERNATIONAL
ASSISTANCE
REF: A. DHAKA 569
B. DHAKA 533
C. AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi; Reason 1.4(d)
1. (SBU) Summary. The GOB agreed April 9 to allow foreign
technical advisors to assist with the Avian Influenza
response. This breakthrough opens the door for multilateral
and bilateral assistance to implement the recommendations
reported in ref (A). END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Early Assessment: Within days of the March 22 public
announcement of the outbreak, the US Department of
Agriculture proposed sending two avian influenza specialists
from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization's Crisis
Management Center. The GOB initially rejected this offer, but
has subsequently reconsidered. On April 4 Dr. Laurence
Gleeson, Regional Manager of the Food and Agriculture
Organization's Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal
Diseases visited Bangladesh to provide a technical assessment
and recommendations (septel). Although Dr. Gleeson's April 7
report to the GOB was coolly received at first by Advisor for
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Dr. C. S. Karim, on April
9 the GOB authorized the rapid deployment of foreign avian
influenza experts to provide technical assistance.
3. (SBU) Donor Actions: USAID Mission Director Carlson met
with Ministry of Finance officials to follow up on the
Ambassador's offer to use local currency accounts which could
be used in the avian influenza response. This, combined with
FAO's Dr. Gleeson briefing his assessment and recommendations
to Dr. Karim and a World Bank representative meeting with the
Chief Adviser which touched on avian influenza, were key
events where the donor community directly interacted with the
GOB. Several one-on-one interactions relating to avian
influenza also played a part in clearing this logjam,
including USAID Mission Director Roger Carlson's meeting with
a World Bank regional representative, as well as the
Ambassador's meeting with the UN Development Program's
Resident Representative, and UN Resident Coordinator, Renata
Lok Dessallien.
4. (C) Internal Pressure: Advisor Karim chairs the National
Advisory Committee under Bangladesh's National Response Plan
until a human H5N1 infection is confirmed, when the Health
Advisor Dr. Maj. Gen. A.S.M. Matiur Rahman (retired) becomes
chairman. Dr. Rahman reportedly wanted to get the donor
community more involved in the avian influenza response from
the start. Rahman's preference for working along the lines
favored by the donor community -- protecting humans by
working aggressively to prevent H5N1's spread among animals
-- may be a part of the reason for the GOB's new approach.
5. (SBU) USG Next Steps: USAID is moving to increase
capacity here by bringing veterinary epidemiologist Dr.
Zandra Andre, who visited Bangladesh in December 2006. She
will likely focus on "train the trainer" events for personal
protective equipment, technical review of proposals USAID has
received for avian influenza response, and technical
assistance through work with FAO's Crisis Management Center
experts on the outbreak's epidemiology. DAO is working to
bring subject matter experts to Bangladesh this summer to
work with the Bangladesh military regarding avian influenza.
BUTENIS