EGYPT: RECENT FLU NEWS

UNCLAS CAIRO 000765 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO PGOV EAGR EG SUBJECT: EGYPT: RECENT FLU NEWS ¶1. (U) Key Points-- There have been a number of developments on both the H1N1 ("Swine" flu) and H5N1 (Avian Influenza or AI) fronts: --(SBU) While the GOE's pig slaughter campaign (septel) has diverted resources and public attention from GOE efforts at pandemic preparedness, the GOE has taken meaningful steps to deal with the H1N1 outbreak, including USAID-supported public awareness campaigns and training programs. -- (SBU) Civil aviation authorities say the GOE does not intend to close the airports and borders if the World Health Organization (WHO) goes to Phase 6. -- (SBU) NAMRU-3, which serves as WHO's regional H1N1 reference center, is receiving samples from the region: so far, none are positive for H1N1. --(SBU) The GOE is attempting to develop and produce poultry vaccines that will be effective against the H5N1 virus now circulating here, which appears to be resistant to most available vaccines. PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The H1N1 outbreak brought a sense of urgency to the Ministry of Health and Population's (MOH's) public service messages designed to encourage behavior that reduce transmission of contagious seasonal influenza. MOH asked USAID for help. They have jointly completed the planned flu materials after rapidly reaching consensus on the content. The materials include a public-service announcement and printed materials: a poster, two fliers, and distribution of the GOE Pandemic Guidelines in Arabic and English. Additionally, MOH has asked USAID to redirect money from routine infection control training to a one-day comprehensive training on Pandemic Preparedness for infection control teams in 350 MOHP hospitals in all 29 Governorates. Additional requests for assistance are expected shortly. ¶3. (SBU) MOH's testing of swine workers for H1N1 continues. This effort is taking time and attention away from ongoing H5N1 testing programs. The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR) and MOH are taking lead roles in preparing for a pandemic, and the efforts are impressive. GOE's Preparedness Plan for Pandemic Influenza is completed, published and distributed. In fact, MALR was conducting its emergency training session when we arrived there for our visit last week in the wake of WHO's phase 5 designation for the H1N1 pandemic. NO PLANS TO CLOSE AIRPORTS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On May 3, we contacted the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) to ask about press reports that Egypt will close its ports and airports if WHO goes to Phase 6. According to the ECAA, there are no plans to close the airports even if WHO does go to Phase 6, and any comments along those lines to the press last week were inaccurate. SO FAR, NO H1N1 in EGYPT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In its new role as H1N1 reference center for WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, NAMRU-3 has begun to receive samples from area countries to test for H1N1. So far, it has found no positive cases. Rumors of an H1N1 case at Egypt's Tanta Fever Hospital yesterday were greatly exaggerated and untrue. NAMRU-3 is prepared to deploy away teams in the region. NAMRU-3 also continues to serve as the regional reference laboratory for seasonal influenza and a global H5N1 influenza center. NEW POULTRY VACCINES FOR H5N1? -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Embassy Cairo is working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Services (USDA) and NAMRU-3 to transfer a reverse genetic strain of H5N1, created by USDA in its Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SPRL) from an 2007 Egyptian H5N1 sample, to the GOE's National Laboratory for Quality Control of Poultry (NLQP) to allow NLQP to conduct research into the strain's suitability as a poultry vaccine. Much of the virus circulating in Egyptian poultry is, according to SPRL, resistant to available vaccines. In a separate development, the Egyptian National Center for Research announced a contract with VACSERA, the GOE-owned vaccine monopoly, for the production of a poultry vaccine based on a reverse genetic strain of H5 taken from a 2006 Egyptian sample. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: These vaccine programs represent the first efforts at science-based decision-making insofar as vaccine programs are concerned, a sea change in country where at least 19 different poultry vaccines have been used to combat AI, unsuccessfully. END COMMENT. SCOBEY