Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09GUANGZHOU76
2009-02-06 09:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Guangzhou
Cable title:
Guangxi AI Update: Still No Link To Bird Outbreak -
how-toVZCZCXRO4638 RR RUEHDT RUEHPB DE RUEHGZ #0076 0370932 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 060932Z FEB 09 FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0177 INFO RUEHGZ/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE 0089 RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC 0086 RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC 0086 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC 0007 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP/ISA/AP// 0004 RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC//J2/J3/J5// 0002 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J00/J2/J3/J5// 0012 RHEFAFM/DIRNCMI FT DETRICK MD
UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 000076
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM, OES/IHA, MED, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP
STATE PASS TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP
HHS PASS TO OGHA, NIH/FIC, CDC/COGH AND FLU DIV TMOUNTS AND NCOX
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA),FSIS
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE AND RMO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC SOCI PREL HK CH
SUBJECT: Guangxi AI Update: Still No Link To Bird Outbreak -
Possibility of Asymptomatic Strain
REF: Guangzhou 0055
UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 000076
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM, OES/IHA, MED, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP
STATE PASS TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP
HHS PASS TO OGHA, NIH/FIC, CDC/COGH AND FLU DIV TMOUNTS AND NCOX
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA),FSIS
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE AND RMO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC SOCI PREL HK CH
SUBJECT: Guangxi AI Update: Still No Link To Bird Outbreak -
Possibility of Asymptomatic Strain
REF: Guangzhou 0055
1. (U) Summary: Authorities have been unable to link the H5N1-death
of a Guangxi teen, the 5th fatality of 2009, with an outbreak among
bird populations. Some south China health experts suspect that
recent human AI cases may be associated with birds that carry and
transmit the virus but do not themselves exhibit symptoms. Others
believe that the deaths are likely linked to sick or dead poultry
that have already been consumed or discarded. One expert
emphasized that the recently reported human AI cases remain
sporadic, showing no signs of a pandemic outbreak. End summary.
2. (U) Pointing to the lack of detected H5N1 avian influenza (AI)
outbreaks among poultry and water fowl, HE Jianfeng, Deputy Director
of the Epidemic Disease Prevention Institute of Guangdong CDC, said
there is a possibility that China's recent human AI cases may be
caused by exposure to an asymptomatic strain (i.e. birds that carry
and transmit the virus but do not themselves exhibit symptoms) of AI
among bird populations. He noted that all of the recent human AI
patients had had contact with poultry either directly or at a wet
market.
3. (SBU) Professor ZHONG Nanshan, Director of the Guangzhou Research
Institute for Respiratory Diseases, and well-known "SARS Doctor,"
acknowledged that the possibility of asymptomatic AI was a key
consideration, pointing out that birds can carry the virus
asymptomatically even after receiving vaccinations. However, he
emphasized that the recently reported human AI cases remain
sporadic, showing no signs of a pandemic outbreak. He believes that
the high mortality rate is associated with delays in diagnosis and
treatment, especially in rural areas, and has encouraged health
officials to be especially careful with pneumonia cases that cannot
be effectively controlled within 48 hours.
4. (SBU) Deputy Director of Guangxi CDC, CHEN Jie, however,
questioned the likelihood of asymptomatic AI among birds, stating
that sick and dead poultry are likely the cause of the January 26
death of a teenager in Guangxi (REFTEL). He speculated that Guangxi
authorities had been unable to locate and test the poultry
responsible for the infection because the birds probably already had
been consumed or discarded.
GOLDBERG
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM, OES/IHA, MED, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP
STATE PASS TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP
HHS PASS TO OGHA, NIH/FIC, CDC/COGH AND FLU DIV TMOUNTS AND NCOX
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA),FSIS
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE AND RMO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC SOCI PREL HK CH
SUBJECT: Guangxi AI Update: Still No Link To Bird Outbreak -
Possibility of Asymptomatic Strain
REF: Guangzhou 0055
1. (U) Summary: Authorities have been unable to link the H5N1-death
of a Guangxi teen, the 5th fatality of 2009, with an outbreak among
bird populations. Some south China health experts suspect that
recent human AI cases may be associated with birds that carry and
transmit the virus but do not themselves exhibit symptoms. Others
believe that the deaths are likely linked to sick or dead poultry
that have already been consumed or discarded. One expert
emphasized that the recently reported human AI cases remain
sporadic, showing no signs of a pandemic outbreak. End summary.
2. (U) Pointing to the lack of detected H5N1 avian influenza (AI)
outbreaks among poultry and water fowl, HE Jianfeng, Deputy Director
of the Epidemic Disease Prevention Institute of Guangdong CDC, said
there is a possibility that China's recent human AI cases may be
caused by exposure to an asymptomatic strain (i.e. birds that carry
and transmit the virus but do not themselves exhibit symptoms) of AI
among bird populations. He noted that all of the recent human AI
patients had had contact with poultry either directly or at a wet
market.
3. (SBU) Professor ZHONG Nanshan, Director of the Guangzhou Research
Institute for Respiratory Diseases, and well-known "SARS Doctor,"
acknowledged that the possibility of asymptomatic AI was a key
consideration, pointing out that birds can carry the virus
asymptomatically even after receiving vaccinations. However, he
emphasized that the recently reported human AI cases remain
sporadic, showing no signs of a pandemic outbreak. He believes that
the high mortality rate is associated with delays in diagnosis and
treatment, especially in rural areas, and has encouraged health
officials to be especially careful with pneumonia cases that cannot
be effectively controlled within 48 hours.
4. (SBU) Deputy Director of Guangxi CDC, CHEN Jie, however,
questioned the likelihood of asymptomatic AI among birds, stating
that sick and dead poultry are likely the cause of the January 26
death of a teenager in Guangxi (REFTEL). He speculated that Guangxi
authorities had been unable to locate and test the poultry
responsible for the infection because the birds probably already had
been consumed or discarded.
GOLDBERG