Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KATHMANDU1488
2007-08-06 05:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
AI CONSIDERED UNDETECTED IN NEPAL
how-toVZCZCXRO1855 PP RUEHCI DE RUEHKT #1488/01 2180555 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 060555Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6781 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6011 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 6313 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1556 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 4334 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 5609 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1786 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 3732 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001488
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO CASC KFLU AID SOCI WHO NP
SUBJECT: AI CONSIDERED UNDETECTED IN NEPAL
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001488
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO CASC KFLU AID SOCI WHO NP
SUBJECT: AI CONSIDERED UNDETECTED IN NEPAL
Summary
--------------
1. At an August 2 meeting of Post's avian influenza (AI)
working group, Dr. Zandra Andre from USAID's Health and Child
Survival Fellows Program briefed post on the spread of AI in
South Asia and the level of Nepal's preparedness. With
reported outbreaks in India, Burma, and Bangladesh, Nepal was
now considered an "un-detected out break" country. USAID was
exploring the possibility of expanding the individual country
programs in Nepal, Bangladesh and India into a regional
program. Nepal's ability to respond to an outbreak was
questionable. Dr. Andre noted that there was low awareness
of AI in Nepal, which deterred early detection; long and
inadequate response times; little awareness of bio-safety
issues; and inadequate capacity to mitigate the affects of an
AI outbreak. While the World Bank has committed 18 million
dollars to an AI project in Nepal, it would take at least six
months for the project to begin. Dr. Andre stressed that
Nepal did not have that much time and that work needed to
begin now.
Nepal Considered an Un-Detected Outbreak Country
-------------- ---
2. At an August 2 meeting of Post's avian influenza (AI)
working group, Dr. Zandra Andre from USAID's Health and Child
Survival Fellows Program briefed post on the spread of AI in
South Asia. She stated that, with reported outbreaks in
India, Burma and Bangladesh, Nepal was now considered an
"un-detected outbreak" country. Since March 2007, there have
been on-going outbreaks in Bangladesh affecting 17 out of 64
districts, and last month, India reported an outbreak in the
district of Manipur. Dr. Andre is based in the USAID Global
Health Office Avian Influenza Unit and was on TDY in
Bangledesh. She visited Nepal for one week to make an
initial assessment of the country's ability to detect and
respond to an outbreak. Dr. Andre explained that the AI
program in Nepal was currently focused on the Terai and other
border areas with China and India, but she emphasized that
USAID was exploring the possibility of expanding the
individual country programs in Nepal, Bangladesh and India
into a regional program. She stressed that a regional
program would facilitate a much more effective response to
the spread of the virus.
Awareness Critical
--------------
3. Dr. Andre stated that, with AI, there were five areas
that the Center for Disease Control focused on, including
planning and preparedness, early surveillance, response,
recovery and communication. At this time, she explained, the
main concern in Nepal was information sharing. She
emphasized that a public awareness campaign was considered
critical as the successful detection and containment of the
disease would depend largely on reporting from communities.
Dr. Andre also noted that it was important to consider the
contribution of wild birds. There was large populations of
wild birds in the Sunsari and Saptari Districts and, Dr.
Andre emphasized, surveillance needed to be established in
these areas where there was a major risk of transmission from
wild birds to domestic fowl such as ducks and chickens.
Detection, Prevention and Mitigation - Cause For Concern
-------------- --------------
4. Dr. Andre stated that the Government of Nepal's (GON)
detection capabilities were a cause for concern. Dr. Andre
explained that a country should be able to respond to a
reported outbreak within 48 hours. In Nepal, it currently
took 72 hours just to get sample test results. It would take
many more days to stage an appropriate response. Rapid
response testing kits needed to be distributed throughout the
country. USAID had provided some kits, but they had not yet
been distributed into the field. Dr. Andre also noted
concern about the GON's ability to mitigate the affects of an
outbreak on the poultry industry, which makes up four percent
of the economy.
Virus Won't Wait for the World Bank Project to Get Underway
KATHMANDU 00001488 002 OF 002
-------------- --------------
5. The USD 18 million World Bank AI project was moving very
slowly, according to Dr. Andre. She warned that it could
likely take six months for the World Bank project to get
started, and the disease would not wait that long. USAID had
USD 750,000 and, working with its partners - Winrock, the
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) - was seeking to build local capacity, as
well as begin critical initiatives, many of which could be
turned over to the World Bank later. Nepal needed technical
assistance now. In addition, Dr. Andre highlighted the need
for compensation to farmers for culled fowl. Farmers would
only be willing to report suspected outbreaks if they knew
they would be compensated for their birds.
Comment
--------------
6. If AI is already in Nepal, detection efforts need to be
stepped up immediately. Post strongly supports the expansion
of the USAID country specific AI programs into a larger
regional project that can respond more effectively to the
present risk. Existing resources need to be used carefully
to support detection and prevention efforts. Taking action
now could be essential in preventing a crisis in the near
term.
HUGINS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO CASC KFLU AID SOCI WHO NP
SUBJECT: AI CONSIDERED UNDETECTED IN NEPAL
Summary
--------------
1. At an August 2 meeting of Post's avian influenza (AI)
working group, Dr. Zandra Andre from USAID's Health and Child
Survival Fellows Program briefed post on the spread of AI in
South Asia and the level of Nepal's preparedness. With
reported outbreaks in India, Burma, and Bangladesh, Nepal was
now considered an "un-detected out break" country. USAID was
exploring the possibility of expanding the individual country
programs in Nepal, Bangladesh and India into a regional
program. Nepal's ability to respond to an outbreak was
questionable. Dr. Andre noted that there was low awareness
of AI in Nepal, which deterred early detection; long and
inadequate response times; little awareness of bio-safety
issues; and inadequate capacity to mitigate the affects of an
AI outbreak. While the World Bank has committed 18 million
dollars to an AI project in Nepal, it would take at least six
months for the project to begin. Dr. Andre stressed that
Nepal did not have that much time and that work needed to
begin now.
Nepal Considered an Un-Detected Outbreak Country
-------------- ---
2. At an August 2 meeting of Post's avian influenza (AI)
working group, Dr. Zandra Andre from USAID's Health and Child
Survival Fellows Program briefed post on the spread of AI in
South Asia. She stated that, with reported outbreaks in
India, Burma and Bangladesh, Nepal was now considered an
"un-detected outbreak" country. Since March 2007, there have
been on-going outbreaks in Bangladesh affecting 17 out of 64
districts, and last month, India reported an outbreak in the
district of Manipur. Dr. Andre is based in the USAID Global
Health Office Avian Influenza Unit and was on TDY in
Bangledesh. She visited Nepal for one week to make an
initial assessment of the country's ability to detect and
respond to an outbreak. Dr. Andre explained that the AI
program in Nepal was currently focused on the Terai and other
border areas with China and India, but she emphasized that
USAID was exploring the possibility of expanding the
individual country programs in Nepal, Bangladesh and India
into a regional program. She stressed that a regional
program would facilitate a much more effective response to
the spread of the virus.
Awareness Critical
--------------
3. Dr. Andre stated that, with AI, there were five areas
that the Center for Disease Control focused on, including
planning and preparedness, early surveillance, response,
recovery and communication. At this time, she explained, the
main concern in Nepal was information sharing. She
emphasized that a public awareness campaign was considered
critical as the successful detection and containment of the
disease would depend largely on reporting from communities.
Dr. Andre also noted that it was important to consider the
contribution of wild birds. There was large populations of
wild birds in the Sunsari and Saptari Districts and, Dr.
Andre emphasized, surveillance needed to be established in
these areas where there was a major risk of transmission from
wild birds to domestic fowl such as ducks and chickens.
Detection, Prevention and Mitigation - Cause For Concern
-------------- --------------
4. Dr. Andre stated that the Government of Nepal's (GON)
detection capabilities were a cause for concern. Dr. Andre
explained that a country should be able to respond to a
reported outbreak within 48 hours. In Nepal, it currently
took 72 hours just to get sample test results. It would take
many more days to stage an appropriate response. Rapid
response testing kits needed to be distributed throughout the
country. USAID had provided some kits, but they had not yet
been distributed into the field. Dr. Andre also noted
concern about the GON's ability to mitigate the affects of an
outbreak on the poultry industry, which makes up four percent
of the economy.
Virus Won't Wait for the World Bank Project to Get Underway
KATHMANDU 00001488 002 OF 002
-------------- --------------
5. The USD 18 million World Bank AI project was moving very
slowly, according to Dr. Andre. She warned that it could
likely take six months for the World Bank project to get
started, and the disease would not wait that long. USAID had
USD 750,000 and, working with its partners - Winrock, the
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) - was seeking to build local capacity, as
well as begin critical initiatives, many of which could be
turned over to the World Bank later. Nepal needed technical
assistance now. In addition, Dr. Andre highlighted the need
for compensation to farmers for culled fowl. Farmers would
only be willing to report suspected outbreaks if they knew
they would be compensated for their birds.
Comment
--------------
6. If AI is already in Nepal, detection efforts need to be
stepped up immediately. Post strongly supports the expansion
of the USAID country specific AI programs into a larger
regional project that can respond more effectively to the
present risk. Existing resources need to be used carefully
to support detection and prevention efforts. Taking action
now could be essential in preventing a crisis in the near
term.
HUGINS