TFLU01: IN VIETNAM, INFLUENZA INFECTIONS GROWING, THOUGH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000546 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, INR, OES/STC, OES/IHA, MED, OGAC STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ASIA (MELLIS, DSHARMA, CJENNINGS) AND GH (GSTEELE, DCARROLL) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (STERN) HHS/OSSI/DSI PASS TO FIC/NIH (RGLASS) AND OGHA (JKULIKOWSKI/ /MABDOO/SCUMMINGS/DMILLER) CDC FOR COGH (SBLOUNT),CCID (SREDD) AND DIV-FLU(NCOX/AMOEN) USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA),FSIS BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC (MMALISON),USAID (MACARTHUR/MBRADY/CBOWES), APHIS, REO (HHOWARD) BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (EYUAN) AND CDC (JMCFARLAND) PHNOM PENH FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR(BBRADY) ROME FOR FAO VIENTIANE FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR (ACORWIN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AMED EAGR PINR KFLU VM SUBJECT: TFLU01: IN VIETNAM, INFLUENZA INFECTIONS GROWING, THOUGH LITTLE SECONDARY SPREAD Ref: A. HCMC 433 B. HCMC 429 C. HCMC 415 D. HCMC 338 HANOI 00000546 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Summary: Vietnam continues to report new A/H1N1 infections, now totaling 23. However, secondary transmission remains minimal, with only three instances of infection of family members. At this time, the Government of Vietnam (GVN) is continuing preventive measures, including airport screening and proscribing voluntary quarantine for persons having close contact with those already infected. Earlier Vietnamese preparations for a possible H5N1 epidemic have made it easier for health officials to respond to the current H1N1 infections. End Summary. A/H1N1 Infections Grow Steadily -------------- ¶2. (U) As of June 12, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 23 confirmed and two probable infections with the novel influenza A/H1N1 virus, including the first case outside of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC),a 34 year old Hanoi resident who tested positive on June 9 after he returned to the country on June 5 Korean airlines flight after a visit in the United States. The numbers are now increasing daily. Of cases in travelers, all but one originated in the United States. Although only two of the cases were initially identified by screening at airport entry, there has to date been no evidence of wider community transmission. Only three cases of secondary infection have been identified, each in family members of cases entering Vietnam from abroad. The cases have involved mostly school-aged children and their parents; all cases have had relatively mild illness typical for seasonal influenza. GVN Continues Preventive Measures -------------- ¶3. (U) The GVN continues basic prevention and containment practices designed to limit entry into the country of infected persons and to prevent secondary transmissions. As of June 11, the GVN continues airport screening. On June 10, eight passengers at HCMC's Tan Son Nhat Airport were found with body temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius. They have been isolated at the Tropical Diseases Hospital and Children's Hospital No.1 pending test results. The GVN is also continuing its policies of identifying close contacts of cases, proscribing voluntary quarantine at places of residence or in hotels, and advising immediate contact with health authorities at first signs of influenza-like illness. MOH continues to call for general population to remain at home if they develop flu-like symptoms, or at least stay away from crowded places and inform health authorities for timely treatment. Looking forward, GVN and local officials continue to plan responses should the infections spread. Dr. Phan Van Nghiem of the HCMC Health Department said if more than 50 suspected patients are found, the officials will reassess trends and modify public health management strategies accordingly. Seeking to limit the number of infected persons entering the country, the National Administration of Tourism has discouraged commercial tourism to countries with a high incidence of the novel H1N1 strain of influenza A virus and the MOH has "strongly recommended" that persons from infected zones delay their trips to Vietnam if they have influenza symptoms. Despite anxiety over HANOI 00000546 002.2 OF 002 tourism, General Director of Saigon Tourist, one of Vietnam's largest international tour operators, said their business has remained steady since the emergence this strain. Benefits of H5N1 Preparation -------------- ¶4. (U) GVN preparations over several years for a possible pandemic of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) with the A/H5N1 strain have contributed to the Vietnamese response to H1N1. MOH quickly put to use investments in investigation, prevention, and control. The national sentinel surveillance system for influenza and severe viral pneumonia form the basis for detecting and monitoring community spread and identifying complications of infection, respectively. Infection control and biosafety practices used for HPAI are being applied to management of infection with the pandemic virus, as are surge procedures for patient management, isolation, and quarantine. The national steering committee for human and avian influenza has seamlessly addressed the challenge posed by the novel A/H1N1, while the rapid response and control teams developed at national and local levels for pandemic threat from avian influenza are being applied to the current challenge using the same organizational structure, human and other resources. Minister of Health Trieu has announced that all patients suspected of being infected with the pandemic virus will be isolated and given free treatment, noting that the MOH has more than 10 million capsules of Tamiflu in stock. Public Awareness Campaigns -------------- ¶5. (U) Both the GVN and the civil society have initiated public awareness campaigns. Earlier this week, the Vietnam Red Cross Society tapped into GVN general disaster funds to kick off a national H1N1 awareness and prevention campaign. USAID, through the Humanitarian Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (H2P),is exploring funding VNRC for a one year pandemic preparedness project to test and develop a national civil society response plan. Comment -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Just as non-USG donor interest for influenza has begun to wane here, Vietnam's response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic has demonstrated the effectiveness of international partnership, donor support, and technical assistance in all aspects of pandemic preparedness. Because the clinical severity of illness has been mild to moderate, Vietnam's national response qualifies as a real time simulation exercise for a severe pandemic and, in a sense, has been treated as such by the government. Importantly, the response has been measured and backed by reasonable communication to citizens and international partners. ¶7. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City. PALMER