US embassy cable - 05HANOI2413

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 002413 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR G; CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; EAP/EX; EAP/BCLTV; EAP/EP; INR; 
OES/STC (MGOLDBERG); OES/IHA (DSINGER AND NCOMELLA) 
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID/RDM/A (MFRIEDMAN) 
USDA FOR FAS/PASS TO APHIS 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (LSTERN) 
USAID FOR ANE AND GH (DCAROLL, SCLEMENTS AND PCHAPLIN) 
STATE PASS USTR (ELENA BRYAN) 
STATE ALSO PASS HHS/OGHA (EELVANDER) 
ROME FOR FAO 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMED, AMGT, CASC, EAGR, PINR, SOCI, PGOV, TBIO, VM, AFLU 
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: AVIAN INFLUENZA WEEKLY REPORT FOR 
SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 
 
REF: A.) Hanoi 2324 B.) Hanoi 2289 
 
1. (U) Summary.  The United Nations Pandemic Preparedness 
Mission Team briefed the diplomatic community on its 
examination of the GVN Avian Influenza (AI) emergency plan 
on September 9.  The team was impressed with the emergency 
plan (which has yet to be released) as a "first draft", but 
noted areas where improvements are needed.  On September 15, 
the Ambassador announced a 500,000 USD grant by U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/CDC) to 
Vietnam's National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology 
(NIHE) to strengthen Vietnam's influenza surveillance 
network.  Press reports and sources within the government 
allege deficiencies with the GVN's poultry vaccination 
program.  The British Embassy will host Consular 
Preparedness Workshop on Pandemic Contingency Plans Tuesday, 
September 20, 2005.  At the workshop, ConOff will present a 
summary of the Mission's AI contingency plan, and will hear 
presentations on emergency plans by WHO, UNDP and the 
British and French Embassies.  End Summary. 
 
AI-Related Cases 
---------------- 
 
2. (U) For the second consecutive week, no new AI cases were 
reported in Vietnam.  The suspected AI death on August 28 
from Soc Son, near Hanoi (Ref B), has not yet been reported 
to WHO as a confirmed AI case by the Ministry of Health. 
 
 
USG Assistance to Vietnam for AI 
-------------------------------- 
 
3. (U) On September 15, the Ambassador announced a HHS- 
funded cooperative agreement, valued at 500,000 USD this 
year, between HHS/CDC and Vietnam's National Institute of 
Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) to strengthen Vietnam's 
influenza surveillance network.  The project is anticipated 
to total 2.5 million USD over five years, subject to funding 
availability.  By enhancing systematic collection of 
virological and epidemiological information for influenza, 
Vietnam will more effectively be able to monitor and track 
influenza viruses and disease activities in-country as well 
as to understand the impact influenza has on Vietnam's 
population.  Improving the influenza surveillance system 
will facilitate more rapid detection of changes to influenza 
viruses, including possible changes to the avian virus H5N1. 
 
4. (U) Post learned this week that the special USG 25 
million USD appropriations signed in May will support 
Vietnam's fight against AI with a grant of approximately two 
million USD to support the joint program of the World Health 
Organization (WHO) and the Food and Animal Organization 
(FAO) in Vietnam.  The grant will support the joint WHO/FAO 
efforts to monitor and support the GVN's Emergency Plan to 
combat an AI outbreak, especially in the area of its 
vaccination program. 
 
 
UN Debrief on GVN Avian Influenza Emergency Plan 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
5. (U) A UN Pandemic Preparedness Mission Team, here last 
week to advise the GVN on its draft AI emergency response 
plan, debriefed the diplomatic community on September 9. 
Team leader Dr. Felix Li repeatedly characterized the GVN's 
AI plan as a good "first draft", lauding it's 
command/control and communications aspects.  However, Dr. Li 
criticized the draft plan for focusing primarily on 
ameliorative efforts at WHO pandemic stage 6.  He stated the 
most important phase is now, planning to prevent movement to 
WHO phases 4 or 5, rather than planning solely for how to 
save lives after a pandemic stage is reached.  Dr. Li 
expressed his opinion that Vietnam is the location holding 
the highest risk for spawning a pandemic. 
 
6. (U) While the team conducted an important first 
outsider's review of the GVN emergency planning, details of 
the plan were not/not released.  According to the team, the 
GVN needs to answer questions such as:  How will the GVN 
maintain essential services (fire, water, telecom, etc.) in 
case of an AI outbreak?  How to conduct vaccinations and who 
to target?  Will the plan be updated and will the GVN 
practice the scenarios on the local level?  The team will 
complete its report with recommendations concerning the GVN 
emergency plan soon and may share the report with the 
international community after consultations with the GVN. 
 
GVN Vaccination Program 
----------------------- 
 
7. (U) Vietnam News Agency reported that Hanoi and Ho Chi 
Minh City would commence vaccinating poultry against AI on 
September 15.  Supervised vaccinations of household poultry 
in Hanoi will be carried out on a trial basis. 
 
8. (SBU) Asked about recent press reports critical of the 
government's pilot vaccination program, sources within the 
government confide that problems have arisen supplying 
vaccine.  The problems do not appear related to finances but 
instead to confusion and conflicts between the private 
importers of the vaccine and various government agencies. 
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) 
officials acknowledge "minor" problems but claims that these 
issues have been worked out and the vaccination program is 
on schedule.  They deny any problem with inadequate 
resources for the vaccination program, but an impression 
exists of an agency strapped for equipment, supplies, and 
qualified workers -- and frustrated by slow and 
uncoordinated international donor response. 
 
 
Update on USDA TDYer Dr. Cheryl Hall 
------------------------------------ 
 
9.  (U) USDA has identified Dr. Cheryl Hall, a USDA/APHIS 
veterinarian who is expert in poultry disease, for a long- 
term TDY as an Embassy Science Fellow in Vietnam to assist 
the AI effort.  According to MARD officials, improving field 
laboratories' diagnostic capacity would be the best use of 
Dr. Hall's expertise.  However, this will require funds to 
cover interpreters and extensive in-country travel for Dr. 
Hall as well as new equipment and training for the 
laboratories.  MARD cannot cover these expenses and current 
funding in place for Dr. Hall falls short of covering even 
interpreters and in-country travel.  Additional funding is 
necessary to justify her TDY.  The most likely source would 
seem to be the funds available under the USAID Action Plan, 
which includes general activities closely in line with Dr. 
Hall's proposed work. 
 
British To Host AI Contingency Conference September 20 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
10. (U) The British Embassy will convene a Consular Workshop 
on Pandemic Preparedness Plans on Tuesday, September 20, 
2005.  Billed as an opportunity to compare pandemic 
preparedness plans in the event of WHO Phase 4 (or higher) 
Alert, the British hope to coordinate planning and assist 
smaller embassies develop contingency plans. AMEmbassy Hanoi 
ConOff will present a summary of our Mission's AI 
contingency plan, and hear presentations on emergency plans 
by WHO, UNDP and the British and French Embassies.  We will 
also utilize this opportunity to present core principles of 
the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic 
Influenza (IPAPI) to an expanded audience - approximately 30 
embassies, UN agencies and key INGOs are expected to attend. 
 
Other AI Related Issues 
----------------------- 
 
11. (U) CARE International in Vietnam will support the 
Vietnamese Government and local organizations in a project 
to prevent the spread of AI. With funding of approximately 
138,000 USD from New Zealand's Agency for International 
Development (NZAID), the project's goal is to assist in the 
prevention, containment and management of AI in Binh Dinh 
and Long An provinces. 
 
12. (U) The Embassy will provide AI-related medical training 
for Embassy guards and first responders this week.  Also, 
the Med Unit has organized AI discussion sessions for 
employees and family members on September 21. 
 
MARINE