FAO-GVN REVIEW AVIAN INFLUENZA STRATEGY IN AGRICULTURAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001551

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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)
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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