AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - VIETNAM'S FIRST HUMAN FATALITY OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000080 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, INR, OES/STC, OES/IHA, MED STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (STERN) HHS/OSSI/DSI PASS TO OGHA (WSTIEGER/LVALDEZ/CHICKEY) AND FIC/NIH (RGLASS) AND DIV-FLU (COX/MOHEN) USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA),AND FSIS BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC (MMALISON),USAID (CBOWES/JMACARTHUR/MBRADY) BANGKOK FOR APHIS (NCARDENAS),REO (JWALLER) BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (ROSS) PHNOM PENH FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR(BRADY) ROME FOR FAO VIENTIANE FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR (CORWIN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR KFLU VM SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - VIETNAM'S FIRST HUMAN FATALITY OF 2008 REF: 07 HANOI 2116 HANOI 00000080 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Summary: Contacts at the National Institute for Infectious and Tropical Diseases (NIITD) confirmed to Embassy staff the first human infection and fatality due to H5N1 in Vietnam for 2008. On January 18, a Vietnamese man from Tuyen Quang province passed away after consuming members of his flock of poultry that had become ill and died. Government of Vietnam (GVN) animal health officials responded and reported that several samples from nearby poultry also tested positive for the H5N1 strain of influenza A. Though the patient died five days ago, the Government of Vietnam (GVN) offically notified the WHO on the evening of January 23. End Summary. 2.(U) On Tuesday January 22, multiple international and local media, quoting state-run media and government sources, reported the death of a 32-year-old Vietnamese man from Lem village, Khang commune, Son Duong District, Tuyen Quang Province (north of Hanoi) earlier this week at Hanoi's National Institute for Infectious and Tropical Diseases (NIITD). The victim initially became ill on January 16 after preparing and eating previously dead poultry. Family members also ate the poultry, though we have no reports at this time of additional human illness. ¶3. (SBU) NIITD staff confirmed to Health and Human Services (HHS) officers that the man was admitted to NIITD in Hanoi after 1700 on January 16. NIITD staff took human samples as per protocol. On January 17, testing of these samples came back positive for H5N1 and NIITD enrolled the patient in a clinical trial examining an anti-viral medication. The patient, a member of an ethic minority group (Cao Lan),died at 1730 on January 18. GVN authorities had yet to notify the WHO of the death and the positive test result for H5N1 as the evening of January 23. ¶4. (U) According to media reports, a relative of the dead man stated that dead chicken and white-winged ducks were present near the patient's home in early January. Per other media reports, the National Center of Veterinary Diagnostics of the Department of Animal Health (DAH) obtained positive results on January 19 for H5N1 in 3 out of 11 samples of poultry from five neigboring households (including 10 chickens and one Muscovy duck). Provincial Veterinary Sub-department authorities then collaborated with the commune officials to cull all 535 fowl in the village and to sterilize the area. ¶5. (SBU) USDA/FAS contacts in the Department of Animal Health within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed that the dead man kept an eight bird flock. In early January, six died (two chickens and four Muscovy ducks). The victim kept the remaining two animals (Muscovy ducks) and invited seven neighbors to dinner. One week later, the man developed a fever. None of the neighbors have yet developed symptoms. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: Like the most recent human fatality from late 2007 (reftel),this case occured in a relatively remote province on which the GVN has not focused its avian influenza response campaign (including mandatory vaccinations). Both involved members of an ethnic minority who ate either sick or already dead poultry. Although the overall number and intesity of animal outbreaks remains substantially lower than this time period last year, human exposure HANOI 00000080 002.2 OF 002 through high risk behaviors, such as handling and prepapring sick or already dead poultry, appear common in some areas. Additionally, in both cases, the GVN failed to promptly notify the WHO. We will remind our Vietnamese interlocutors of the need for prompt notification to ensure proper international response and suggest that the GVN consider increased education efforts in non-focus provinces and among minority groups. End comment. MICHALAK