This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000677 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES/IHA - SARA ALLINDER MESTRE; EAP/BCLTV 
STATE PASS HHS OFFICE OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS - ERIKA ELVANDER 
USDA FOR FAS / PASS TO APHIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMED AMGT EAGR CASC TBIO VM AFLU
SUBJECT:  Vietnam Requests Avian Influenza (AI) Assistance 
 
¶1. This cable contains an action request. Please see 
Paragraph 14. 
 
¶2. Summary: The Government of Vietnam (GVN) has requested 
avian influenza training assistance from HHS/CDC and 
USDA/APHIS to address laboratory and surveillance issues. 
The GVN will be working with the World Bank, WHO, FAO, and 
donor organizations to enhance regional labs and address 
other aspects, such as re-stocking and farmer compensation, 
of the avian influenza outbreak. As of early March, the GVN 
feels the avian influenza outbreak is over. End Summary. 
 
¶3. Embassy Health Attache, Dr. Marie Haring Sweeney 
(HHS/Hanoi, email: SweeneyMH@state.gov) and Agricultural 
Attache, Henry Schmick  (USDA/FAS, email: 
Henry.Schmick@usda.gov) had a brief meeting on March 4 with 
Dr. Bui Quang Anh, the Director of Vietnam's Department of 
Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development 
(MARD/DAH), and Dr. Tran Ngoc Thang (MARD/DAH/International 
Cooperation Division). 
 
¶4. The GVN officials requested technical assistance from 
HHS/CDC and USDA/APHIS in conducting avian influenza (AI)- 
related training courses in two separate areas: (a) lab 
skills for detecting AI and (b) practical surveillance 
methods. They would like to hold training courses in both 
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City -- as soon as possible. Dr. Thang 
will be the key liaison contact, and he will send the 
Mission a letter with more details on Monday, March 8. 
 
--------------- 
 Meeting Notes 
--------------- 
 
¶5. The meeting opened with Dr. Anh thanking HHS for 
responding to their initial request by sending two CDC lab 
scientists (Drs. Maines and Tumpey) who came to Hanoi at the 
start of the AI outbreak to work with DAH's National Center 
for Veterinary Diagnosis.  He noted the CDC assistance had 
been key in helping their labs learn how to test for AI. 
 
¶6. Dr. Anh said there had been no new AI outbreaks since 
February 26, all culling had been completed, and he felt the 
outbreak was over. However, he also observed that AI could 
return at any time. Given that concern, MARD/DAH felt the 
most pressing need was to strengthen the capacity of the 
labs to diagnose AI, and to set-up a robust AI surveillance 
system. 
 
¶7. At present, Dr. Anh said there were three labs able to 
test for AI. (Note: We only discussed animal sample testing 
capacity. End Note.) The labs are MARD/DAH's National Center 
for Veterinary Diagnosis, MARD's National Institute of 
Veterinary Research, both in Hanoi, and MARD/DAH's Regional 
Animal Health Center in Ho Chi Minh City. 
 
¶8. However, to adequately cover the country and carry out 
all the tests needed to implement a robust countrywide 
surveillance system, MARD felt that 5 or 6 of the existing 
provincial animal health labs should be equipped and trained 
to test for AI. They are targeting the labs in: (1) Can Tho, 
(2) Da Nang, (3) Vinh, (4) Hai Phong, (5) Hanoi, and perhaps 
(6) Nha Trang. 
 
¶9. MARD has been discussing this need to enhance these labs 
with the World Bank and FAO. They noted that roughly $5 
million (of a planned $20 million World Bank AI project) had 
been allocated to lab and surveillance issues. (Note: Post 
will confirm that information with World Bank and FAO 
representatives. End Note.) 
 
¶10. On the surveillance side, they mentioned needing help to 
train Provincial officials on practical issues, such as: how 
to detect AI, how to cull, how to disinfect chicken houses 
and local markets, how to set-up market-level surveillance 
systems, and related epidemiological topics. 
 
¶11. In the long run, Dr. Anh indicated that Vietnam would 
like to set-up AI free zones. They would also welcome 
technical assistance on that topic, since it relates to 
establishing surveillance zones and techniques. (Comment: 
Based on DAH's slow progress in setting up specific pathogen- 
free zones or disease-control zones against Foot and Mouth 
Disease and various swine diseases to boost their pork 
exports, this is likely to be a major challenge. End 
Comment.) 
 
¶12. Coordination: WHO (on the human health side) and FAO 
(animal health issues) are coordinating donor (World Bank, 
ADB, and a host of country donor and NGO) assistance efforts 
with the Vietnamese government. Post will work with WHO and 
FAO, as well as MARD/DAH, to make sure HHS/CDC and 
USDA/APHIS activities are similarly coordinated. 
 
¶13. Comment: The Department of Animal Health has lagged 
behind other sections of the Ministry of Agriculture in 
preparing for WTO accession, expanding export markets and 
embracing international trade. Its Director, Dr. Anh, looked 
completely exhausted during our conversation with him. AI 
surveillance will be a challenge given Vietnam's geography: 
63 provinces and 3 large incorporated cities along a long 
coast in a land area the size of Virginia, North and South 
Carolina, as well as bordering many countries with AI 
problems. End Comment. 
 
---------------- 
 Action Request 
---------------- 
 
¶14. Mission would appreciate the Department urging HHS and 
USDA to consider favorably the GVN request for technical 
training assistance. This is an opportunity to help the 
people of Vietnam address a humanitarian and economic 
crisis. 
 
BURGHARDT