FAO-GVN REVIEW AVIAN INFLUENZA STRATEGY IN AGRICULTURAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001551 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, AIAG, OES/IHA, MED STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH STATE PASS TO HHS/OGHA (STIEGER/VALDEZ/BELL/HICKEY) CDC FOR OGHA (BLOUT/MCCALL) AND DIV-FLU (COX/MOHEN) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (STERN) HHS PASS TO FIC/NIH (GLASS) USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA),FSIS BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC (MALISON),USAID (MACARTHUR/BRADY) BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (ROSS) PHNOM PENH FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR(BRADY) VIENTIANE FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR (CORWIN) ROME FOR FAO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR KFLU VM SUBJECT: FAO-GVN REVIEW AVIAN INFLUENZA STRATEGY IN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR HANOI 00001551 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Summary. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) recently concluded that Vietnam's overall approach to the control and prevention of highly pathologic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry is sound and appropriate and recommended that Vietnam adopt a medium to long term approach to control and prevention. MARD Vice Minister Bui Ba Bong emphasized the difficulty in eliminating the virus and the need for focused attention on transmission of HPAI through ducks, suggesting better containment, biosecurity, vaccination, and communication programs. FAO Country Representative Andrew Speedy reinforced the need to develop a clearer vaccination strategy for 2008, increase investment in poultry sector improvements, and adopt best international practices. End Summary. LESSONS LEARNED -------------- ¶2. (U) As part of the FAO and MARD organized strategy review meeting on August 27-28, U.N. Resident Coordinator John Hendra, MARD Vice Minister Bui Ba Bong and FAO Country Representative Andrew Speedy chaired a meeting of the Partnership in Avian and Human Influenza (PAHI). During the meeting, MARD Vice Minister Bong emphasized the difficulty in totally eliminating the virus and the need for focused attention on transmission of HPAI through ducks, suggesting better containment of free range ducks, improved bio-security measures, more targeted vaccination extension, and strengthened mass communication to farmers and buyers. VM Bong stated that Vietnam has about 70 million ducks - the second largest population in the world after China - and that roughly three-quarters of these ducks are free-range flocks that move over large areas. ¶3. (U) MARD Department of Animal Health (DAH) Deputy Director Hoang Van Nam stated that the most recent (5th) wave of 2007 poultry outbreaks occurred in 21 provinces, primarily in the northern and southern deltas, and largely struck relatively small, unvaccinated poultry flocks -- particularly ducks. Genetic sequencing and challenge trials of recent virus isolates undertaken in China indicated that the current poultry vaccines are still "effective." Between March and May 2007, 131.7 million poultry received vaccinations in 33 provincial high risk areas. Nam noted several constraints to fighting avian influenza remain, including: lack of investor interest in improving poultry sector management practices; the difficulty in maintaining the high commitment and vigilance of farmers and local-level officials over periods of relatively limited outbreak activity; lack of farmer access to vaccination centers; and the inadequate capacity of veterinary services. RECOMMENDATIONS -------------- ¶4. (U) Dr. Les Sims of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok presented the FAO-MARD technical group's recommendations on control and prevention of HPAI. The group concluded that the overall approach to control and prevention of HPAI in poultry in Vietnam is sound and appropriate. Dr. Sims stated that the GVN did not need to make major changes to its current program, but should look beyond the policies and practices in the Integrated Operational Program for Avian and Human Influenza, HANOI 00001551 002.2 OF 002 or the "Green Book," and focus on a locally-appropriate medium to long-term approach. This will require additional capacity building in veterinary services, appropriate changes in production and marketing in the poultry sector, and additional investments from the private sector, especially from larger producers. He noted many high risk practices along the entire production and market chain that must be identified and either eliminated or reduced. ¶5. (U) Building off conclusions of the U.N. Technical Workshop in Rome in June 2007, Dr. Sims outlined seven major recommendations, including: (1) ensuring vaccination of all grazing ducks; (2) developing models and market driven enhancements for increased farm bio-security; (3) improving behavioral change, certification and market-led controls to improve transportation of all agricultural products; (4) developing relatively simple enhancements to improve hygiene and market surveillance in live poultry markets; (5) enhancing hygiene and certification of hatcheries; (6) continuing poultry vaccination efforts for at least another five years, to review effectiveness annually and to shift the cost-burden of vaccinations from the GVN to farmers; (7) developing communication strategies that target specific occupational groups (e.g., farmers, transporters, market sellers, households) and different poultry sectors that focus on reinforcing behavioral change. ¶6. (U) FAO Country Representative Andrew Speedy highlighted the need to develop a clearer vaccination strategy for 2008, continue investments to ensure the effectiveness of vaccinations, investigate best practices from Brazil and other countries to promote investment incentives in poultry production farms, strengthen controls on the movement of ducks, and improve field extension and field-level communications strategies. UN Resident Coordinator Hendra applauded the GVN's transparency, but also emphasized the importance of a strong vaccination program, together with comprehensive surveillance and response measures, and noted the need to maintain donor support and technical assistance. (Note: The USG continues to be heavily engaged in supporting these efforts. USAID will soon provide an additional USD 8 million in grants to support the GVN's overall effort in biosecurity and public education. End note.) ¶7. (U) VM Bong stressed the GVN's willingness to provide animal and human H5N1 isolates to international reference laboratories upon request. The GVN has also promised to work with MARD staff to make animal isolate sequencing information available on-line via the DAH website, the gene bank data base website, or directly in response to a specific request. MICHALAK