REPRESENTATIVE MCCOLLUM VIEWS AVIAN INFLUENZA PREPARATIONS

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