AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VIENTIANE 000295

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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


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1. SUMMARY: There have been no new human avian influenza (AI)
cases or bird outbreaks since the last report. Massive culling in
Vientiane municipality was completed on March 16. The World
Bank-assisted compensation program is paying poultry owners sixty
percent of the market value of culled birds. The second of two
human cases of avian influenza (both were fatalities) was confirmed
by testing in Japan. Embassy officers participated in two
ceremonies handing over protective equipment to the Government of
Laos (GOL) for use in culling operations and hospitals. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) hosted Laos' first-ever workshop on
surveillance for AI in wild birds. End summary.

Current Avian Influenza Status
--------------


2. There have been no new human cases or bird outbreaks since the
last report.


3. Massive culling and post-culling disinfection took place in
seven of Vientiane municipality's nine districts, ending on March

16. Intensive monitoring for human and bird AI cases continued
until March 30. Culling greatly exceeded initial expectations of
150,000 birds. Dr. Bounkong Phichit, Vice Minister of Public
Health, told DCM and Embassy Infectious Diseases Coordinator on
March 27 that over 500,000 birds were culled during a two-week
period. At a March 27 meeting at the National Avian and Human
Influenza Coordinating Office (NAHICO),district representatives
said that public cooperation had been critical to the success of
this decisive action, particularly since 80% of poultry stocks are
associated with "backyard" production.

Compensation for Culled Birds
--------------


4. The World Bank has provided $350,000 to the program to
compensate owners of culled poultry. Additionally, the GOL will
provide 20 billion kip (approximately US$2 million) from the central
treasury toward this action. A reimbursement listing is being
published that will approximate 60% of the market value
(pre-outbreak conditions) for various birds and bird products:
25,000 ($2.50) kip/kilogram for fighting-cocks (which have a market
value in Thailand approximating $300),45,000 kip ($4.50) for
egg-producing chickens, etc. The 60% figure is lower than the 70%
compensation that World Bank representatives told us they expected

VIENTIANE 00000295 002.2 OF 003


would be paid, and which they described as the worldwide standard
for ensuring public compliance.


5. Discussions between Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
World Health Organization (WHO),U.S. Centers for Disease Control
(CDC),Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and local district
government staff at NAHICO addressed the issue of "safe consumption"
of poultry products, i.e. bringing poultry meat from non-affected
outbreak areas to the market places for general consumption.
Participants outlined safeguards like stamping of chickens and
establishing mechanisms to ensure only "safe" products were made
available. Hampering efforts was the acknowledged absence of any
type of processing facilities in each district to manage inspection
actions.

Confirmation of Past Case
--------------


6. On March 16, the National Institute for Infectious Diseases
(NIID),Japan, provided confirmation regarding the second (of two)
human cases of H5N1. (Both were fatalities.) This case was
identified H5-positive using two primers by RT-PCR testing at the
National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE),representing
Laos' first detection of H5 without outside assistance aside from
the quality assurance and confirmation that NIID provided. This
also represents a US CDC success, since Laos' in-country diagnostic
capabilities are such that it is now a participant in the WHO
Worldwide Influenza Surveillance Network. (Note for specialists:
The sequencing carried out using specimen taken from the second H5N1
case in Laos and provided to NIID by NCLE provided the following
information: the sequence was 100% identical to that of
A/Laos/JP085/2007 (the first Lao human case of H5N1),belonging to
Clade 2.3. Testing results to-date at NCLE of 150 patient specimens
tested (from 180 received) has yielded 2 H5s, 10 H3s, and 9 FLU Bs.
End note.)

Equipment Handovers
--------------


7. On March 21, the Embassy Infectious Diseases Coordinator turned
over 5,000 units of protective equipment and 100
sprayer/disinfection kits provided by USAID to the Department of
Livestock and Fisheries (DLF),National Animal Health Center. The
USG partnered with the FAO in this action. Dr Bounkhuang

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Khambounheung, Director General of the DLF, expressed great
appreciation for the rapid response of the USG in satisfying
critical needs as expressed by the GOL in responding to the current
AI outbreak conditions.


8. On March 21, the DCM and Infectious Diseases Coordinator
partnered with WHO-Laos in turning over $77,000 worth of protective
equipment stocks intended to protect hospital staffs receiving
"suspect" human cases of AI. Dr Dong Il Ahn, WHO Country
Representative, applauded the CDC-WHO collaboration in helping the
GOL respond to the current AI crisis, citing the first two human
deaths in Laos that occurred in February and March 2007. Dr
Bounkong Phichit, Vice Minister of Public Health, voiced his
appreciation, once again, for the outstanding assistance being
provided by the GOL. Both of the handover ceremonies received good
press coverage.

Wild Birds Surveillance Workshop
--------------


9. The USDA hosted the first-ever Avian Influenza in Wild Birds
Surveillance Workshop held in Laos. The Wildlife Conservation
Society helped organize the workshop. Mr Veune Vang Bouttalat,
Director General, Department of Forestry, Ministry of Forestry and
Agriculture, highlighted the importance of USG and GOL cooperation
in hosting this event. The Embassy Infectious Diseases Coordinator
cited the strong partnerships between the USG and its representative
agencies, FAO, and the Department of Forestry in establishing
strategies to monitor wild bird populations for AI, and assess their
impact on the spread of AI into domestic (poultry and duck)
populations. Also noted was the importance of balancing
surveillance and containment of AI in wild bird populations and
conservation concerns.

HASLACH