US embassy cable - 05HANOI2858

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002858 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FOR USAID/RDM-A/BANGKOK 
STATE FOR G; CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; EAP/EX; EAP/BCLTV; EAP/EP; INR; 
OES/STC (PBATES); 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 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMED, AMGT, CASC, EAGR, PINR, SOCI, PGOV, TBIO, VM, AFLU 
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: AVIAN INFLUENZA WEEKLY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 
27, 2005 
 
REF: A) Hanoi 2655 and previous 
 
1. (U) Summary.  There have been no new cases of human Avian 
Influenza (AI) reported since Mission Vietnam's last weekly 
update on October 20 (reftel).  The Government of Vietnam 
(GVN) continues its poultry vaccination program and the 
National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) will 
hold a 2-day planning workshop for implementation of the 
HHS/CDC Cooperative Agreement to enhance their capabilities 
as a National Influenza Center.  The Australian Government 
will provide an additional AUD $3 million ($2.26 million) to 
Vietnam to fight against a possible bird flu epidemic and 
the Embassy continues to plan for an AI pandemic.  End 
Summary. 
 
NO NEW HUMAN CASES 
------------------ 
 
2. (U) There have been no new human AI cases since August 
29. 
 
ANIMAL HEALTH 
------------- 
 
3. (U) Recent discussion with Vietnamese animal health 
officials reveal that although the goal remains nationwide 
vaccination of all poultry, officials are prioritizing to 
increase the probability of success even if nationwide 
targets are not reached.  Officials are first vaccinating in 
areas that have been prone to past outbreaks and are also 
working to first assure that duck populations are 
vaccinated.  The ducks are most important because they are 
asymptomatic carriers that can spread the disease 
effectively whereas AI kills most chickens.  In fact, some 
international experts suggest that a program that only 
vaccinates ducks could be successful. 
 
U.S. - VIETNAM AI COORDINATION 
------------------------------ 
 
4. (U) NIHE is holding a 2-day planning workshop on October 
27-28 for implementation of the HHS/CDC Cooperative 
Agreement to enhance their capabilities as a National 
Influenza Center.  Leaders and key staff from partner 
institutions have been invited, including the Directors of 
NIHE, Pasteur Institutes of HCMC, Nha Trang, and Central 
Highlands; National Institute for Clinical Research and 
Tropical Medicine; National Pediatric Hospital in Hanoi; 
Pediatric Hospital #1; Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho 
Chi Minh City; Khanh Hoa General Hospital in Nha Trang; Dak 
Lak General Hospital; and Kien Xuong District Health Center, 
Thai Binh Province.  Three HHS/CDC scientists will 
participate in the program demonstrating laboratory 
techniques and data collection procedures. 
 
5. (U) The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) 
held an AI coordination meeting in Bangkok on October 19-20 
to finalize the country plans for emergency AI activities. 
According to USAID, the funds have been transferred and FAO 
is completing a budget for disaster preparedness planning. 
 
6. (U) The Academy for Educational Development (AED) was is 
in Vietnam this week to develop an AI public awareness 
campaign.  AED specializes in behavior change and social 
marketing with 1500 staff in 50 offices worldwide and 
was awarded $2 million to conduct AI health communication 
interventions.  Letters of Agreement between AED and each 
FAO country office are being drafted to define the working 
relationships between the Communications Advisors and FAO 
staff. 
 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY EFFORTS 
------------------------------- 
 
7. (U) The Australian Government will provide an additional 
AUD $3 million ($2.26 million) to Vietnam to fight against a 
possible bird flu epidemic.  The Australian Agency for 
International Development will help the country to enhance 
the capability of managing public health emergencies with a 
focus on bird flu.  One third of the assistance will be 
delivered through a program jointly conducted by the World 
Health Organization (WHO), FAO and the UN Development 
Program (UNDP), in partnership with the Vietnamese National 
Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Control. 
 
PRESS REPORTS ON AI 
------------------- 
 
8. (U) In response to increasing threats of a bird flu 
outbreak, press reports indicate the GVN plans to ban the 
raising and trade of live fowls in cities' inner areas 
nationwide and banning the sales of popular dishes made from 
poultry's fresh blood.  The National Anti-Bird Flu Steering 
Committee is also drafting a regulation on the breeding, 
trade and slaughtering fowls. 
 
9. (U) Local press also reported on October 27 that three 
Vietnamese pharmaceutical companies will begin producing 
Tamiflu between now and December.  According to the Director 
of the Vietnam Pharmaceuticals Administration Department Cao 
Minh Quan, the decision was made following negotiations with 
Roche Pharmaceuticals.  Quan estimates that Vietnam needs to 
stockpile 25 million doses of Tamilfu in the event of an AI 
pandemic.  (Note:  Post has not confirmed this information 
and doubts the likelihood that an agreement with Roche has 
been finalized.  End Note). 
 
EMBASSY AI MEETINGS 
------------------- 
 
10. (U) The Embassy's AI Working Group met on October 26 to 
discuss contingency planning and response to a potential AI 
outbreak.  Post will have a digital video conference with 
the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City next week to 
continue AI contingency planning. 
 
BOARDMAN