REPORTING OF INDONESIA HUMAN AVIAN INFLUENZA

UNCLAS STATE 028521


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT EAGR ID KFLU PGOV TBIO WHO
SUBJECT: REPORTING OF INDONESIA HUMAN AVIAN INFLUENZA
(H5N1) CASES - REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION

REF: A. JAKARTA 477

B. JAKARTA 398


1.(U) This is an action request; please see paragraphs 5 and

6.

2.(SBU) Per reftels, evidence of human cases of H5N1 Avian
Influenza in Indonesia since the end of 2008 continues to
mount. We understand that at least four cases have been
reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) office in
Jakarta, but we have not seen evidence that these cases have
been reported to Memeber States by the WHO, either posted on
the appropriate WHO website, or made public by either the
Government of Indonesia (GOI) or the WHO. On the contrary,
WHO staff in Indonesia have referred to an agreement with the
GOI Ministry of Health not to share the information with
other Member States until the Ministry of Health publicly
announces the cases. It would seem WHO risks subjecting
public health transparency on human H5N1 cases to
Indoniesia's national public health decisions.

3.(SBU) Futhermore, various media, Internet and other reports
indicate additional human H5N1 cases may have not been
reported to the WHO office in Jakarta, to WHO Geneva, or
otherwise made known. Such lack of clear, substantiated
reporting fuels rumors and limits the international
community's ability to assess the severity of the H5N1
situation for humans in Indonesia.

4.(SBU) According to the International Health Regulations, a
human case of H5N1 influenza is both a notifiable event and a
public health event of international concern. We believe WHO
needs to report human H5N1 influenza cases to the
international community to meet its commitment to protect
public health.

Action Requested:


5. Mission is instructed to approach WHO at an appropriate
level to express our concern. Mission should urge the World
Health Organization to the need for WHO to produce regularly
updated reporting on human cases of H5N1 by country. The U.S.
encourages all countries to report such cases to the
international community according to the International Health
Regualtions, and for the GOI and other member states to
comply with this need for information-sharing.

6.(SBU) If the WHO does not believe it needs to be reporting
regularly on cases in Indonesia or elsewhere, we would
appreciate further information regarding the WHO position.


7. We appreciate the Mission's help. Please slug replies for
OES/IHB - Patterson and Shapiro.


CLINTON