AVIAN INFLUENZA: AI FOUND IN BIRDS IN VIENTIANE (WEEKLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VIENTIANE 000125

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, EAP/EX, EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, INR,
OES/STC(BATES),OES/IHA (SINGER AND COMELLA),MED, AND H

STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH (CARROLL, CLEMENTS, AND
JENNINGS)

STATE PASS TO USTR (BISBEE)

STATE PASS TO HHS/OGHA (WSTEIGER, ELVANDER, AND ABHAT)

USDA PASS TO APHIS

SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA/AP (STERN)

BANGKOK FOR RMO, DCD, USAID (MACARTHUR AND BRADY)

ROME FOR RAO

USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU SOCI SCUL PREL AMED AMGT CASC EAGR EAID
ETRD, LA
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: AI FOUND IN BIRDS IN VIENTIANE (WEEKLY
REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 14, 2007)

REF: VIENTIANE 36

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1. SUMMARY: The Lao government's avian influenza (AI) coordinator
told donors on February 13 that two wild ducks in Vientiane had
tested positive for avian influenza. Tests on two possible human
cases are underway; initial results are negative. END SUMMARY.

Reports of H5N1 Positive Ducks in Vientiane
--------------


2. There is a new outbreak of avian influenza in Vientiane. Dr.
Bounnlay Phommasack, Director of the National Avian and Human
Influenza Coordinating Office (NAHICO),announced in an AI
Ministerial Donor Meeting on February 13 positive H5N1 infections in
otherwise healthy ducks screened at the National Center for Animal
Health. Chicken deaths attributed to an AI outbreak in Si Chiang
Mai District, Nong Khai Province, Thailand (directly across the
Mekong River from Vientiane) in January 2007 prompted intensive
monitoring for possible bird and human cases in Lao villages on the
opposite bank of the Mekong River. While over 70 chicken deaths
were found negative for H5N1, surveillance of over 2000 live chicken
and ducks in Vientiane Capital yielded two positive "roaming" ducks
in Dongsabath Village, Sisattanak, Vientiane Municipality, on the
basis of Direct Rapid Antigen Detection Testing at the National
Center for Animal Health. Specimens have been sent to Vietnam for
confirmatory purposes (vice Thailand as in the case during the
Saythany H5N1 outbreak in July 2006).

Testing for Human H5N1 Cases
--------------


3. The National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE)
carried out first-time testing for two human "cases under
investigation" with newly established functional RT-PCR laboratory
capacity. Initial results are negative; these findings will be
confirmed at the NIID (Japan) as part of the WHO Worldwide Influenza
Surveillance Network.


4. The CDC Vietnam AI Coordinator was able to procure urgently
needed reagent from his colleagues at the National Institute of
Hygiene and Epidemiology/Hanoi, despite the fact that it was Tet New
Year. Unfortunately, it took Fedex three days to fly the reagent
from Hanoi to Vientiane - a one-hour plane trip apart. Although the
epidemiology does not appear compatible with a possible H5N1
infection, this testing capability, established by the CDC-WHO
collaboration in Laos, adds significantly to detection and
surveillance efforts.

Emergency Response Training
--------------


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5. The Assistant Director, Office of Terrorism, Preparedness and
Emergency Response, and the Senior Operations Management Consultant,
US CDC, provided instruction on the Automated Disaster and Emergency
Planning Tool (ADEPT) at the invitation of the National Avian and
Human Influenza Coordinating Office (NAHICO). NAHICO Director Dr.
Bounlay Phommasack said that ADEPT has the potential to help the GOL
prepare a National Avian and Influenza Response Plan (not to be
confused with the established National Avian and Human Influenza
Pandemic Preparedness Plan). Participants were particularly
impressed with ADEPT's ability to introduce managerial vice tasking
input in assigning responsibilities, and to organize a process
involving disparate groups, e.g., security, health, environmental
sanitation, logistics and warehousing, agriculture, etc. A
tentative implementation schedule was provided to NAHICO after
discussions with US CDC Laos, FAO, and WHO. The CDC representatives
were advised by the Embassy Infectious Diseases Coordinator to
consult with the US CDC Influenza Division is strengthening the
scientific worth of measures as related to avian influenza.

Local Training
--------------


6. The CDC-WHO collaboration continued its support for projects
throughout Laos, with "train the trainer" regional workshops
targeting: a) rapid district level responders in Oudom Xay,
Champassak, and Luang Prabang Provinces; and b) clinical providers
in Luang Prabang, Champassak, and Savannakhet provincial Hospitals.


7. The Embassy's Infectious Diseases Coordinator participated in
the Inter-Regional Knowledge Sharing Series on Avian and Human
Influenza; Seminal 3 - Compensation Policies: Issues and Good
Practices. Requested from participants was greater commentary on
the use of non-monetary compensation packages, particularly in
countries, including Laos, that have weak financial mechanisms to
ensure equitable, reasonable, and uncorrupted distribution. One
example provided was buying into vaccinated local bird stocks,
particularly where national coverage is little or none.


8. The Embassy's Infectious Diseases Coordinator is participating
in a WHO Checklist Review to ensure surveillance and laboratory
compliance with newly established measures as part of the Internal
Health Regulations (IHR). Focus has been on better incorporating
the Early Warning Outbreak Recognition System (EWORS) network into
National Outbreak Response Activities.

Louis Pasteur Institute in Laos
--------------


9. The Minister of Health, Dr. Ponemek Dalaloy, presented the
proposed organization of the new Lao National Institute of Hygiene,
Epidemiology, Prevention and Promotion (LANIHEPP) to the AI Donor

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Group. He outlined the organizational framework that would comprise
the Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology, alongside that of an
Institute Pasteur Lao (IPL). Emphasizing that LANIHEPP would be a
Lao entity preserving Lao National Reference Diagnostic ownership
and prerogative, the Minister said that the envisioned IPL would
provide critical research and training assistance and support.


10. The Minister used the AI donor group as the forum to
familiarize the international community with the proposed LANIHEPP.
The GOL sought to enlist support in making up the current 5.5
million euro shortfall of the projected 8.8 million euro projected
cost. The EU Representative suggested a re-direction of funds
recently obligated from the World Bank Trust in support of AI
Pandemic capacity building initiatives. Ambassador Haslach
supported the concept of a LANIHEPP (to include the Institute
Pasteur Lao) provided that this remains a Lao National Institution -
and that issues concerning sharing and proprietary ownership are
addressed. She advised the Minister to also look to the private
philanthropic sector in the United States and elsewhere for support
in realizing the LANIHEPP vision.


11. The Minister of Health has since expressed interest in visiting
New York as part of a trip to North America to seek out possible
assistance from Rockefeller and other possible funding sources.

HASLACH