Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HANOI1050
2007-06-04 10:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:
AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - MORE HUMAN CASES UNDER
how-toVZCZCXRO4178 RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD DE RUEHHI #1050/01 1551040 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 041040Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5552 INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 3165 RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3170 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5735 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 1209 RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0806 RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0307 RUEHSUN/USUN ROME IT RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 1500 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP/ISA/AP// RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC//J2/J3/J5// RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-3// RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J00/J2/J3/J5// RHEFAFM/DIRAFMIC FT DETRICK MD//MA-1A//
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001050
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, INR, OES/STC, OES/IHA, MED
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH
STATE PASS TO HHS/OGHA (STIEGER, VALDEZ, BELL, HICKEY)
CDC (COX AND MOHEN)
USDA PASS TO APHIS
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (STERN)
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID (MACARTHUR AND BRADY)
VIENTIANE FOR CDC (CORWIN)
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (ROSS)
BANGKOK FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (MALISON)
PHNOM PENH FOR CDC (BRADY)
ROME FOR FAO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR SOCI VM
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - MORE HUMAN CASES UNDER
INVESTIGATION
HANOI 00001050 001.2 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
REF: A. HANOI 973 AND B. HANOI 1026
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001050
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, INR, OES/STC, OES/IHA, MED
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH
STATE PASS TO HHS/OGHA (STIEGER, VALDEZ, BELL, HICKEY)
CDC (COX AND MOHEN)
USDA PASS TO APHIS
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (STERN)
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID (MACARTHUR AND BRADY)
VIENTIANE FOR CDC (CORWIN)
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (ROSS)
BANGKOK FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (MALISON)
PHNOM PENH FOR CDC (BRADY)
ROME FOR FAO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR SOCI VM
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - MORE HUMAN CASES UNDER
INVESTIGATION
HANOI 00001050 001.2 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
REF: A. HANOI 973 AND B. HANOI 1026
1. (U) Summary. The Government of Vietnam (GVN) reports a second
confirmed human case of highly pathologic H5N1 avian influenza (AI)
since May 1 (reftel A and B). The media reports that two additional
patients with severe respiratory illness are under investigation for
AI at Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital. Pasteur Institute in HCMC is
currently conducting tests on one patient hospitalized in HCMC with
flu-like symptoms. With regards to animal outbreaks, the MARD has
reported two additional confirmed AI poultry outbreaks in northern
Vietnam, bringing the current national total to 18 of Vietnam's 64
provinces and municipalities (reftel B) since May 1.
2. (U) The first human case, a 30-year old man who was thought to
have been infected while slaughtering chickens for a wedding on May
5 (reftel A),remains in stable condition and is able to breath on
his own.
3. (SBU) The second case, which was reported by the Ministry of
Health (MOH) over the weekend, may have had occupational exposure to
H5N1 influenza A virus at a slaughter house on the outskirts of
Hanoi. After working there from at least May 14, the 19-year old
man became ill with respiratory symptoms, and returned home to Pho
Yen District, Thai Nguyen Province May 19. Dates of exposure, onset
of illness and hospitalization are variably reported. A source in
the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reported
that he was hospitalized in Thai Nguyen Hospital on May 24, and
transferred to Hanoi on May 25. The patient went into respiratory
failure, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Test
results confirmed H5N1 virus.
4. (SBU) A MARD source reported that this second case prompted the
dispatch of a joint MOH-MARD investigation team to Pho Yen District,
where animal samples were taken and results are pending. Fowl are
raised at the patient's home. There have been no reports of ill
birds at the site. In a neighboring town, Song Cong, there were
reports of dead animals; however, testing results were negative.
5. (SBU) A MARD source reported that there was a decision by a
senior official not to conduct sampling at the slaughter house where
the second case worked because of technical reasons. We have been
unable to confirm the validity of the stated technical rationale.
6. (U) The state-owned media reports two additional patients under
investigation for AI at Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital. The two men were
admitted on May 31 and June 1, respectively. One of them is dead.
The second, a 29-year old policeman who had a history of taking part
in culling infected birds, is under treatment. Results of
laboratory testing are not yet available.
7. (SBU) The HCMC Pasteur Institute's Deputy Chief of Microbiology
and Immunology, Dr. Phan Van Tu, told EconOff that the Institute has
examined two suspected cases of AI in humans in the past month. One
patient, referred from HCMC Children's Hospital 2, tested negative.
An additional case was referred from the HCMC Tropical Diseases
Hospital on June 4 and test results are expected in the coming
HANOI 00001050 002.2 OF 002
days.
8. (U) On June 3, MARD reported that confirmed AI outbreaks had
occurred in 15 Provinces since May 1, 2007. Various local media
reports list up to an additional three provinces with animal
activity (which may not be laboratory confirmed). Most outbreaks
sites are in the northern region, including from all contiguous
provinces surrounding Hanoi, with outbreaks also reported in the
Mekong Delta and Central Vietnam. Outbreaks have been localized,
mostly restricted to lots of unvaccinated and immature ducks, and
have been controlled and contained using standard operating
procedures.
MARINE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, INR, OES/STC, OES/IHA, MED
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH
STATE PASS TO HHS/OGHA (STIEGER, VALDEZ, BELL, HICKEY)
CDC (COX AND MOHEN)
USDA PASS TO APHIS
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (STERN)
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID (MACARTHUR AND BRADY)
VIENTIANE FOR CDC (CORWIN)
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (ROSS)
BANGKOK FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (MALISON)
PHNOM PENH FOR CDC (BRADY)
ROME FOR FAO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR SOCI VM
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - MORE HUMAN CASES UNDER
INVESTIGATION
HANOI 00001050 001.2 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
REF: A. HANOI 973 AND B. HANOI 1026
1. (U) Summary. The Government of Vietnam (GVN) reports a second
confirmed human case of highly pathologic H5N1 avian influenza (AI)
since May 1 (reftel A and B). The media reports that two additional
patients with severe respiratory illness are under investigation for
AI at Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital. Pasteur Institute in HCMC is
currently conducting tests on one patient hospitalized in HCMC with
flu-like symptoms. With regards to animal outbreaks, the MARD has
reported two additional confirmed AI poultry outbreaks in northern
Vietnam, bringing the current national total to 18 of Vietnam's 64
provinces and municipalities (reftel B) since May 1.
2. (U) The first human case, a 30-year old man who was thought to
have been infected while slaughtering chickens for a wedding on May
5 (reftel A),remains in stable condition and is able to breath on
his own.
3. (SBU) The second case, which was reported by the Ministry of
Health (MOH) over the weekend, may have had occupational exposure to
H5N1 influenza A virus at a slaughter house on the outskirts of
Hanoi. After working there from at least May 14, the 19-year old
man became ill with respiratory symptoms, and returned home to Pho
Yen District, Thai Nguyen Province May 19. Dates of exposure, onset
of illness and hospitalization are variably reported. A source in
the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reported
that he was hospitalized in Thai Nguyen Hospital on May 24, and
transferred to Hanoi on May 25. The patient went into respiratory
failure, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Test
results confirmed H5N1 virus.
4. (SBU) A MARD source reported that this second case prompted the
dispatch of a joint MOH-MARD investigation team to Pho Yen District,
where animal samples were taken and results are pending. Fowl are
raised at the patient's home. There have been no reports of ill
birds at the site. In a neighboring town, Song Cong, there were
reports of dead animals; however, testing results were negative.
5. (SBU) A MARD source reported that there was a decision by a
senior official not to conduct sampling at the slaughter house where
the second case worked because of technical reasons. We have been
unable to confirm the validity of the stated technical rationale.
6. (U) The state-owned media reports two additional patients under
investigation for AI at Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital. The two men were
admitted on May 31 and June 1, respectively. One of them is dead.
The second, a 29-year old policeman who had a history of taking part
in culling infected birds, is under treatment. Results of
laboratory testing are not yet available.
7. (SBU) The HCMC Pasteur Institute's Deputy Chief of Microbiology
and Immunology, Dr. Phan Van Tu, told EconOff that the Institute has
examined two suspected cases of AI in humans in the past month. One
patient, referred from HCMC Children's Hospital 2, tested negative.
An additional case was referred from the HCMC Tropical Diseases
Hospital on June 4 and test results are expected in the coming
HANOI 00001050 002.2 OF 002
days.
8. (U) On June 3, MARD reported that confirmed AI outbreaks had
occurred in 15 Provinces since May 1, 2007. Various local media
reports list up to an additional three provinces with animal
activity (which may not be laboratory confirmed). Most outbreaks
sites are in the northern region, including from all contiguous
provinces surrounding Hanoi, with outbreaks also reported in the
Mekong Delta and Central Vietnam. Outbreaks have been localized,
mostly restricted to lots of unvaccinated and immature ducks, and
have been controlled and contained using standard operating
procedures.
MARINE