AVIAN INFLUENZA - FEBRUARY 22 UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000351 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG AND OES USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/WSTEIGER/ABHAT/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN USDA/FAS/OSTA BRANT, ROSENBLUM USDA/APHIS ANNELLI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AMED CASC EAGR AMGT PGOV ID SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA - FEBRUARY 22 UPDATE 1.(SBU) SUMMARY: In an unexpected move on February 20, Minister of Health Supari authorized the release of samples from two human H5N1 cases to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. NAMRU-2 shipped the samples on February 21. The Ministry of Health (MOH) authorized the shipment without requiring a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA). The MOH pulled back all English version copies of Supari's book entitled "It's Time to Change the World" while international press picked up on the story of Supari's conspiracy allegations that the US and World Health Organization (WHO) will use Indonesian AI samples for capitalistic gains and other duplicitous purposes. On February 12, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) officials told us that Dr. Darminto, the Director of Balitvet, the national research laboratory for Ministry of Agriculture (MOA),will not release poultry virus samples held at the laboratory as they soon will have the capacity to conduct necessary research in-house. On February 18, USAID, AusAID, and FAO met with Dr. Tjeppy Soedjana, MOA Director General of Livestock for his assistance in expediting the release of samples. As of February 22, Indonesia has 129 human cases, with 105 fatalities. End Summary. -------------- Litbangkes to Send Samples to CDC -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Dr. Endang Sedyaningsih, Senior Researcher of Litbangkes told us on February 20 that Litbangkes wants NAMRU to send samples from two recent cases to CDC for analysis. The cases involve a 38 year-old mother and 15 year-old daughter who have both survived AI and are apparently recovering. Although initially requesting that CDC sign a MTA, the MOH ultimately authorized shipment without requiring a MTA. Following receipt of a Litbangkes authorization letter, NAMRU-2 shipped specimens by World Courier the afternoon of 21 February with tentative arrival in Atlanta on February 25. ¶3. (SBU) Litbangkes has also requested assistance to identify a consultant who can assist with characterization of H5N1 samples at laboratories in Indonesia. We have proposed recruiting a laboratory scientist from CDC-Atlanta. -------------- Press Highlights Book Allegations -------------- ¶4. (U) Following the public sale of Supari's book "It's Time to Change the World-the Divine Hand behind Avian Influenza," the Government of Indonesia suddenly recalled all English version books until the English version of the book is rewritten to correct "translation errors." The book currently describes a US and WHO plot to use samples for private gain and potentially for the development of biological weapons at Los Alamos laboratory. ¶5. (U) At a press conference on February 21, Supari indicated that the English translator made numerous mistakes when translating from the Bahasa Indonesia edition and that she had not made these allegations. Press has contacted Embassy officials requesting that we comment on Supari's allegation about biological weapons. We responded to all direct inquiries, denying the allegations. The Age, a Sydney newspaper and the Financial Times ran stories about the book on February 20 and 21. Indonesian newspapers including the Koran Tempo, the Indo Pos and the Republika featured stories on February 22. ¶6. (U) On February 22, Supari defended her position on RCTI national television, stating she will not revise or withdraw her book even though "certain parties" protest its content. The minister also mentioned that the US may create biological weapons from the avian flu virus. She stated that the Indonesians have a right to know this "truth." -------------- Research on Poultry Virus Samples Stalled -------------- JAKARTA 00000351 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) In a February 12, 2008 meeting with FAO, Dr. Darminto, Balitvet Director informed FAO that he no longer will send Balitvet poultry virus samples to international laboratories because Balitvet will soon have capacity to conduct necessary research in-house. In subsequent meetings between USG and MOA, Dr. Darminto appears to be encouraging other laboratories to follow this lead. ¶8. (SBU) FAO is working to secure export permits for samples currently held at various laboratories in Indonesia for the past eight months. The samples will contribute to a USAID and AusAID funded project to support development of a poultry vaccine tailored to the virus currently circulating in Indonesia. ¶9. (SBU) USAID and partners met with Dr. Tjeppy D Soedjana, the MOA Director General of Livestock and Dr. Elly Sawitri, the Director of the Campaign Management Unit on February 18 and they agreed to expedite export permits for samples held at Disease Investigation Center laboratories and to work with the Director General Research and Development to release Balitvet samples. As a research institute, Balitvet is under the purview of the Director General Research and Development. Meanwhile, FAO is working to establish alternative sample collection mechanism for the areas covered byQk}QQQ4Q!QHfQQruary 16. The two new cases include a three year-old male from South Jakarta who was admitted to the hospital on February 16 and died on February 18. The second case involves a 16-year-old male from Solo who checked into the hospital on February 7 and died on February 10. Both patients lived in close proximity to chickens. As of February 22, Indonesia has 129 human cases with 105 deaths. HUME