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

220754Z Dec 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 007801 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OES FOR DSINGER, RDALEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO SENV ECON EAGR EAID PREL XX
SUBJECT: THAILAND RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR AVIAN AND 
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA INFORMATION 
 
REF: A. STATE 209622 
 
     ¶B. BANGKOK 5626 
 
¶1. (U) Post hereby provides updated responses to second avian 
influenza questionnaire contained in reftel A: 
 
A) PREPAREDNESS/COMMUNICATION 
 
-- DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE A PREPAREDNESS PLAN/STRATEGY FOR 
PREVENTING AVIAN FLU FROM BECOMING A PANDEMIC AND CONTAINING 
A PANDEMIC ONCE IT OCCURS? IF THE COUNTRY HAS A STRATEGY, HOW 
CAPABLE IS IT OF IMPLEMENTING IT? PLEASE PROVIDE A COPY OF 
THE PLAN OR THE INTERNET ADDRESS FOR THE PLAN. 
 
¶2. (U) Thailand has developed and published a plan for both 
control of avian influenza in poultry and for a response to a 
human influenza pandemic.  These documents are publicly 
available in English and Thai languages. The English plan can 
be accessed at 
http://epid.moph.go.th/invest/ai/bird%20flu.p df.  Substantial 
resources have been committed to AI containment and pandemic 
planning.  Within the limits of national resources, the 
Government of Thailand is capable of an effective response to 
a human influenza pandemic. 
 
-- HOW TRUTHFUL WILL THE GOVERNMENT BE IN REPORTING THE SCOPE 
OF ANY DISEASE OUTBREAK AMONG PEOPLE? AMONG ANIMALS? WHAT 
INCENTIVES COULD BE OFFERED THAT WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN MORE 
TRANSPARENCY? 
 
¶3. (U) Over the past 12-16 months, the Government of Thailand 
has been increasingly transparent in reporting suspected and 
confirmed human cases of avian influenza. 
Laboratory-confirmed cases are promptly reported to WHO. 
Likewise, outbreaks of the infection in poultry have been 
promptly reported to the OIE.  Incentives at the level of the 
government are probably not needed.  The government continues 
to provide compensation to villagers for birds culled and 
this remains an important incentive to reporting bird 
die-offs. 
 
-- WHERE DOES PREPARING FOR AN AVIAN FLU HUMAN PANDEMIC RANK 
AMONG GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES? WHO AND WHAT WOULD MOST 
INFLUENCE THE COUNTRY TO GIVE THE ISSUE A HIGHER PRIORITY? 
WHO IS THE KEY "GO-TO" PERSON, OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT (I.E. 
MINISTER FOR HEALTH, PRIME MINISTER, ETC.) FOR USG OFFICIALS 
TO ENGAGE ON THIS ISSUE? 
 
¶4. (U) This issue has the attention of the highest levels of 
the Thai government. The Prime Minister has been directly 
involved in the response and committees have been formed at 
various levels of the government to address the issue.  Key 
go-to persons: Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisang and 
Dr. Supamitr Chunsutiwat at the Thailand Ministry of Public 
Health. 
 
-- HAVE NATIONAL LAWS BEEN REVIEWED TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE 
CONSISTENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS AND DO 
NOT POSE BARRIERS TO AVIAN INFLUENZA DETECTION, REPORTING, 
CONTAINMENT, OR RESPONSE? 
 
¶5. (U) Thailand participated in drafting the revised 
International Health Regulations.  Avian influenza in humans 
is a notifiable (reportable) disease in Thailand.  National 
laws pose no barriers. 
 
-- IS THE HOST COUNTRY ALREADY WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL 
ORGANIZATIONS OR OTHER COUNTRIES ON THE AVIAN FLU ISSUE? ARE 
GOVERNMENT LEADERS LIKELY TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE US 
OR OTHER COUNTRIES? WOULD GOVERNMENT LEADERS BE RECEPTIVE TO 
MESSAGES FROM US LEADERS THROUGH A BILATERAL APPROACH, AT A 
MULTILATERAL FORUM SUCH AS THE UN (WHO,FAO,ETC.) OR APEC, OR 
THROUGH BILATERAL CONTACTS BY A THIRD COUNTRY? WHAT WOULD THE 
COUNTRY WANT FROM THE US IN RETURN FOR ITS EFFORTS? 
 
¶6. (U) The Government of Thailand has met with numerous 
political representatives and maintains collaborative 
relationships with technical experts from several regional 
countries affected by avian influenza. The Government of 
Thailand has asked for technical assistance from the US CDC 
in the past. The US CDC continues to actively collaborate on 
the issue, particularly by improving surveillance and 
laboratory diagnostic capacity. The Government of Thailand is 
not likely to ask for direct financial aid to address this 
issue but welcomes technical cooperation and assistance at 
different levels.  Thai leaders would be receptive to 
messages indicating a desire of the US to support and 
collaborate on efforts to control AI and plan for a human 
pandemic with technical assistance such as advanced training 
in laboratory diagnostics.  Thailand has taken a regional 
leadership role on this issue and should be recognized for 
this.  The Government of Thailand would appreciate political 
and technical assistance from the US to establish and 
maintain a regional stockpile of antiviral drugs and personal 
protective equipment. 
-- DOES THE COUNTRY CURRENTLY ADMINISTER ANNUAL FLU SHOTS? IF 
NOT, MIGHT IT CONSIDER DOING SO?   WHAT IS THE PRODUCTION 
CAPABILITY (I.E. HOW MANY DOSES OF THE ANNUAL TRIVALENT FLU 
VACCINE CAN THE COUNTRY MAKE)FOR HUMAN INFLUENZA VACCINES IN 
THE COUNTRY? DOES THE COUNTRY PRODUCE INFLUENZA VACCINE FOR 
POULTRY AND IF SO HOW MUCH? IF THE COUNTRY IS DEVELOPING AN 
H5N1 VACCINE, WHERE IS IT IN PRODUCTION AND TESTING? ANY 
LICENSING ISSUES? IS THERE A LIABILITY SHIELD FOR FOREIGN 
MAKERS/DONORS OF VACCINES? IF NOT, ANY PROSPECTS OF ONE BEING 
ENACTED? 
¶7. (U) The human seasonal influenza vaccine is available in 
Thailand but is not widely used.  Prior to the avian 
influenza outbreak, fewer than 80,000 doses were used each 
year; this represents