Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VIENTIANE37
2007-01-16 08:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vientiane
Cable title:
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOLLUM VIEWS AVIAN INFLUENZA PREPARATIONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0028 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHVN #0037 0160807 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 160807Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0776 INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 7088 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000037
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS (Bestic),OES/STC, OES/IHA, MED, AND H;
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP TBIO KFLU AMED SOCI LA
SUBJECT: REPRESENTATIVE MCCOLLUM VIEWS AVIAN INFLUENZA PREPARATIONS
IN LAOS
REF: Vientiane 0012
UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000037
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS (Bestic),OES/STC, OES/IHA, MED, AND H;
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP TBIO KFLU AMED SOCI LA
SUBJECT: REPRESENTATIVE MCCOLLUM VIEWS AVIAN INFLUENZA PREPARATIONS
IN LAOS
REF: Vientiane 0012
1. (U) Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MIN) learned first-hand about
Vientiane's main Mahasot Hospital during her recent visit to Laos.
She discussed available and needed resources in recognizing suspect
cases of human avian influenza (AI) and reviewed corresponding
clinical case management practices. Dr. Changpheng THAMMAVONG
(Director) and Dr. Bounkong SIHAVONG (Deputy Director) described
measures taken in preparing Mahasot Hospital, the Principal National
Referral Hospital for Laos, to respond to a possible AI pandemic.
2. (U) Congresswoman McCollum expressed a keen appreciation for
actions taken by the Mahasot Hospital staff to date. However, she
expressed concern that clinical resources at the local level in Laos
may not be adequate for case management and infection control
demands brought on by a pandemic. The Congresswoman encouraged
vigilance and noted growing concern that the real challenge into the
future, in the absence of pandemic conditions in the short term,
will be to maintain AI preparation as a priority focus. She pointed
out that we might not realize a pandemic for many years, but
nevertheless need to maintain a high state of alert.
3. (SBU) Comment: Representative McCollum effectively raised a range
of issues during her December 21-29 visit to Laos, including a range
of governance issues with counterparts from the National Assembly
(reftel). Her visit to Vientiane's leading hospital, accompanied by
the Embassy's U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in-country
representative, was particularly helpful both in expressing
long-term U.S. support on the AI issue as well as ensuring that this
influential Member of Congress more fully understands the challenges
facing this less-developed country in preparing for an AI pandemic.
HASLACH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS (Bestic),OES/STC, OES/IHA, MED, AND H;
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP TBIO KFLU AMED SOCI LA
SUBJECT: REPRESENTATIVE MCCOLLUM VIEWS AVIAN INFLUENZA PREPARATIONS
IN LAOS
REF: Vientiane 0012
1. (U) Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MIN) learned first-hand about
Vientiane's main Mahasot Hospital during her recent visit to Laos.
She discussed available and needed resources in recognizing suspect
cases of human avian influenza (AI) and reviewed corresponding
clinical case management practices. Dr. Changpheng THAMMAVONG
(Director) and Dr. Bounkong SIHAVONG (Deputy Director) described
measures taken in preparing Mahasot Hospital, the Principal National
Referral Hospital for Laos, to respond to a possible AI pandemic.
2. (U) Congresswoman McCollum expressed a keen appreciation for
actions taken by the Mahasot Hospital staff to date. However, she
expressed concern that clinical resources at the local level in Laos
may not be adequate for case management and infection control
demands brought on by a pandemic. The Congresswoman encouraged
vigilance and noted growing concern that the real challenge into the
future, in the absence of pandemic conditions in the short term,
will be to maintain AI preparation as a priority focus. She pointed
out that we might not realize a pandemic for many years, but
nevertheless need to maintain a high state of alert.
3. (SBU) Comment: Representative McCollum effectively raised a range
of issues during her December 21-29 visit to Laos, including a range
of governance issues with counterparts from the National Assembly
(reftel). Her visit to Vientiane's leading hospital, accompanied by
the Embassy's U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in-country
representative, was particularly helpful both in expressing
long-term U.S. support on the AI issue as well as ensuring that this
influential Member of Congress more fully understands the challenges
facing this less-developed country in preparing for an AI pandemic.
HASLACH