Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PRAGUE370
2007-04-06 14:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CZECH REPUBLIC: PREPARATIONS FOR POSSIBLE H5N1

Tags:  KFLU KSTH WHO MARR MASS CASA TBIO EZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7271
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPG #0370 0961422
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061422Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8859
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
UNCLAS PRAGUE 000370 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE ERIC FICHTE, G/AIAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU KSTH WHO MARR MASS CASA TBIO EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: PREPARATIONS FOR POSSIBLE H5N1
AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK

REF: A. STATE 37751


B. 05 PRAGUE 1533

C. 05 PRAGUE 1264

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000370

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE ERIC FICHTE, G/AIAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU KSTH WHO MARR MASS CASA TBIO EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: PREPARATIONS FOR POSSIBLE H5N1
AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK

REF: A. STATE 37751


B. 05 PRAGUE 1533

C. 05 PRAGUE 1264


1. Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Public Health Officer
Michael Vit on March 19 briefed Embassy officials on Czech
preparations for a possible H5N1 avian flu outbreak. In
November 2006, the European Center for Disease Prevention and
Control (ECDC) reviewed national preparedness plans against
an influenza pandemic and ranked the CR plans among the best
in the EU.

--------------
Outbreak Risk & Czech Preparedness Plans
--------------


2. According to the ECDC, the Czech Republic was one of 17 EU
member states with H5N1 avian flu infected birds. Vit said a
total of 12 dead swans with the lethal strain of avian flu,
H5N1, have been found around lakes in southern Bohemia, all
during 2006. Vit acknowledged that H5N1 has reached the CR
from Asia, but noted that, to-date, there has been no
reported cases of H5N1 spreading to poultry or to humans in
the EU.


3. Vit felt that the CR is not at high risk for an avian flu
outbreak because of relatively few and small poultry farms
and markets and low rates of direct human-to-poultry contact.
Nevertheless, the GOCR has taken a number of steps to bring
Czech plans into accordance with EU standards. Czech health
and veterinary officials have revised their quarantine
practices, established an emergency alert system with
regional hospitals, fire brigades and police, and increased
their stock of anti-influenza treatment drug Tamiflu. Vit
explained that since the virus exhibits flu-like symptoms,
the CR is stocking up on anti-influenza treatment drugs
(Tamiflu). In 2005, the GOCR had in stock enough doses of
Tamiflu for roughly 6% of the population, including for first
responders and health workers at high risk. Today, Vit said
there are doses for 20% of the population.


4. Vit explained that there is currently no commercially
available vaccine to specifically treat H5N1 bird flu in
humans because scientists need specimens from pandemic H5N1
to create the vaccine. However, pharmaceutical companies must
purchase supplies in advance for future vaccinations if they
are to have enough on hand for large numbers of people. Vit
said the GOCR plans to spend CZK 3 billion (USD 150 million)
for enough future vaccination to cover 60% of the population
by end 2007. Vit, who is heading a search and selection
committee for suppliers, said six pharmaceutical suppliers in
the CR are capable of producing this vaccine and ultimately
three suppliers will be selected in the next two-to-three
months.

--------------
Mission Points of Contact
--------------


5. Responding to reftel A, Mission points of contact on avian
and pandemic influenza are the following:

DOS: Economic Officer Peter Galus (galusp@state.gov) until
04/30/07,
Economic Officer Hart Nelson (nelsonhg@state.gov) starting
05/01/07
DOD: DAO Army Attache Col. Jeffrey Holachek
(holachekjs@state.gov)
GRABER