US embassy cable - 05RANGOON1304

UNCLAS RANGOON 001304 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA; USDA FOR FAS, APHIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, EAID, PGOV, PHUM, PREL, SOCI, TBIO, BM, CACS, Avian Influenza 
SUBJECT: BURMA AI UPDATE: NOVEMBER 17, 2005 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 1275 AND PREVIOUS 
     B. RANGOON 1265 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  We have met in the past week with the Minister 
of Health and other embassies to gather information on AI and 
to coordinate planning.  We have seen reporting from the 
Burmese media, closely controlled by the GOB, raising public 
awareness of AI issues.  End Summary. 
 
2.  On November 7, conoff met with counterparts from the 
German and U.K. embassies to coordinate embassies' planning 
for possible AI outbreaks in Burma.  They discussed drug 
stockpiling for staff and resident nationals, use of 
protective gear, evacuation plans, and travel advisories. 
The German, Italian, and U.K. embassies are all stockpiling 
Tamiflu for their direct hire and locally engaged staff, as 
well as all family members and their small populations of 
locally resident nationals.  The German and U.K. embassies 
plan to order masks and protective gear as well.  The EU 
embassies will use the WHO alert levels as their triggers for 
responding to AI outbreaks. 
 
3.  On November 8, the Minister of Health, Dr. Kyaw Myint, 
described GOB plans for combating AI to the Charge (ref A) in 
cooperation with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. 
The GOB-controlled media has begun broadcasting public 
awareness messages on television and through newspapers, 
asking the public to inform the authorities about possible 
outbreaks of AI.  The Minister of Health assured the Charge 
that he would work closely with the WHO, the FAO, and foreign 
missions to ensure maximum transparency in dealing with AI in 
Burma. 
 
4.  On November 10, poloff met Dr. Adik Wibowo, the WHO 
representative for Burma, and Dr. Tin Win Kyaw, State Health 
Director for Mon State.  Dr. Adik said the WHO seeks to 
establish an "AI action group" for Burma to consist of 
representatives from the GOB, relevant UN agencies, and key 
foreign missions.  She has sought approval from the Minister 
of Health before starting up the group.  Dr. Tin Win Kyaw 
mentioned that the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary 
Department has "rapid test kits" for analyzing samples taken 
from suspected cases of AI in animals and has used these kits 
during recent suspected outbreaks in Mon State.  He said that 
the Ministry of Health lacks similar testing kits for 
suspected cases among humans.  (Note: As reported earlier 
(ref A), the Minister of Health would welcome assistance in 
this area.  End Note.) 
 
5.  COMMENT: Other embassies share our view that the GOB has 
a very limited capacity to deal with a major AI outbreak.  We 
have agreed with the German and U.K. embassies to monitor the 
situation closely and share information regularly.  The GOB's 
sudden move to a new capital (ref B) will likely disrupt the 
ministries' ability to cope with this challenge.  End 
Comment. 
VILLAROSA