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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VIENNA 003865 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR OES/IHA, EUR/AGS (VIKMANIS KELLER), AND EUR/PGI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO SENV ECON EAGR EAID PREL CASC AU WHO
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON AVIAN AND PANDEMIC 
INFLUENZA: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE 
 
REF: STATE 209622 
 
¶1.  Enclosed, are Post's responses to the questions in reftel. 
 
A)  PREPAREDNESS/COMMUNICATION 
 
Q: 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. 
 
A:  Since March 2000, Austria has had a contingency plan on 
avian influenza and Newcastle disease (Krisenplan Aviaere 
Influenza und Newcastle Disease).  In addition, the Austrian 
government published an Influenza Pandemic Plan (Influenza 
Pandemieplan, Strategie fuer Oesterreich) in September 2005, 
which covers measures, competent authorities, diagnostic, 
clinical and hygienic measures, media, and communication, as 
well as the regulatory framework.  In order to prevent 
Austrian poultry and domestic birds from contracting avian 
flu from migratory birds, an ordinance on the mandatory 
confinement of poultry and domestic birds indoors came into 
force on October 22, 2005 and will end on December 15, 2005 
(Verordnung.der Bundesministerin fuer Gesundheit und Frauen 
zur Verhinderung der Einschleppung der Gefluegelpest).  If 
necessary, Austrian authorities may extend the ordinance. 
Austria is highly capable of implementing this strategy.  The 
Pandemic Plan and additional information on avian and 
pandemic influenza is available on the homepage of the 
Austrian Ministry of Health and Women at www.bmgf.gv.at. 
 
Q:  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? 
 
A:  The Austrian government will be very forthcoming and 
transparent in its reporting of the scope of any disease 
outbreak among people and among animals.  Incentives are not 
needed. 
 
Q:  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? 
 
A:  Preparing for an avian flu human pandemic is a high 
priority of the federal government.  However, the Ministry of 
Health is also emphasizing that there is no reason for 
"panic" and that an outbreak of the disease is very unlikely 
in the near future in Austria.  The key authority for avian 
flu issues is the Austrian Ministry for Health and Women 
(Bundesministerium fuer Gesundheit und Frauen). 
 
The contact for the consumer health and national veterinary 
administration is: 
Mr. Ulrich Herzog 
Federal Ministry for Health and Women 
Radetzkystrasse 2, 1030 Vienna 
Phone:  43-1-71100 Ext. 4824 or Ext. 4825 
Fax:  43-1-710-41-51 
Email: anita.chvatal(at sign)bmgf.gv.at 
 
The contact for the national contingency plan is: 
Dr. Elisabeth Reisp 
Federal Ministry for Health and Women 
Radetzkystrasse 2, 1030 Vienna 
Phone:  43-1-71100 Ext. 4821 
Fax:  43-1-710-41-51 
Email: elisabeth.reisp-poechhacker(at sign)bmgf.gv.at 
 
Q:  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? 
 
A:  Yes.  The pandemic plans on avian and human influenza 
specifically refer to the WHO international health 
regulations and recommendations, as well as to EU guidelines. 
 
Q:  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 
U.S.or other countries?  Would government leaders be 
receptive to messages from U.S. 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 U.S. in return 
for its efforts? 
A:  Austria is already working with international 
organizations (e.g. the WHO) and other countries (mainly EU 
countries) on the avian flu issue.  In the case of a major 
outbreak the GOA would ask for assistance, if the GOA 
believed it could benefit from it.  Government leaders would 
be receptive to messages at a multilateral forum and also on 
a bilateral basis. 
Q:  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? 
 
A:  Austria does have a yearly updated "vaccination plan" 
that includes voluntary flu shots.  17% of the population 
receives the vaccine regularly.  The GOA does not produce 
human influenza vaccines.  Pharmacies purchase the vaccine 
from pharmaceutical companies according to estimates about 
the amount of vaccines needed within the vaccination period. 
It appears that in 2005, they underestimated the demand due 
to more people requesting the flu shot.  Vaccines from abroad 
need an import license. 
 
Austria does not produce influenza vaccine for poultry. 
Currently, there is no approved poultry vaccine against avian 
flu within the EU.  In Austria, preventive poultry 
vaccination is prohibited.  However, in the case of a major 
outbreak of avian flu, Austrian authorities might allow 
vaccinations on an exceptional basis, but this is not very 
likely. 
 
The GOA is cooperating with the Austrian subsidiary of the 
U.S. firm Baxter to produce a prophylactic human influenza 
vaccine in the case of a looming pandemic.  The Austrian 
Product Liability Act is valid for pharmaceuticals, including 
vaccines.  A producer or an importer is liable for damage 
irrespective of who is at fault.  The exception is the 
so-called "development risk."  For example, if the party at 
fault is unknown or cannot be determined, including in 
instances involving an unknown virus, an importer cannot be 
made liable. 
 
Q:  How well informed is the population about the avian flu 
threat and about measures they should take to mitigate the 
threat?  What mechanisms are available for providing 
additional information to the population, particularly in 
rural areas, and how effective are these measures? 
 
A:  The Austrian public is well informed about the avian flu 
threat through the media.  The government is also asking the 
public to report sightings of all dead birds to the 
authorities.  Austrian poultry growers must register with the 
authorities.  The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety 
(Oesterreichische Agentur fuer Gesundheit und 
Ernaehrungssicherheit) installed a telephone hotline, where 
the public can receive information on avian flu.  The hotline 
phone number is:  43-50555-666. 
 
B) SURVEILLANCE/DETECTION 
 
Q:  How capable are the medical and agriculture sectors of 
detecting a new strain of influenza among people or animals 
respectively?  How long might it take for cases to be 
properly diagnosed, given other endemic diseases?  Can 
influenza viruses be sub-typed in the country, if so by whom, 
and if not where are they sent?  Does the country send 
samples to a WHO/EU/U.S. reference laboratory? 
 
A:  According to the Pandemic Plan, the medical sector has a 
surveillance program in place.  There are two "competence 
centers," which are responsible for this program.  These are 
The Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene in Vienna, 
which cooperates with The Austrian Agency for Health and Food 
Safety (AGES), and the Institute for Virology at the Medical 
University of Vienna.  The system is based on the "Sentinella 
Reporting System," where a network of doctors screens 
patients on a weekly basis, who are under suspicion of 
carrying the influenza virus.  The results are sent to AGES. 
Health insurance companies in the Austrian states also have 
to report all cases of influenza. 
The agricultural sector is carrying out a surveillance 
program on avian flu.  Authoriites test approximately 5000 
wild and domestic birds annually for avian influenza. 
Results from these test samples are available in one to two 
days.  In the case of a positive result, a second test is 
performed.  A definitive result is available after 3 to 4 
days.  The reference laboratory of the Agency for Health and 
Food Safety (AGES) tests for viruses in birds. 
 
In case of an occurrence of a virus-isolate, the authorities 
would automatically forward the isolate to the WHO.  Among 
European countries there is an information exchange system on 
the epidemiology situation in Europe, the European Influenza 
Surveillance System (EISS). 
 
Q:  What are the critical gaps that need to be filled in 
order to enhance the country's disease detection and outbreak 
response capabilities?  What is the country's greatest need 
in this area from the U.S. or international organizations? 
 
A:  There are no critical gaps in Austria,s disease 
detection and outbreak response capabilities at the moment. 
 
C) RESPONSE/CONTAINMENT 
 
Q:  Does the country have a stockpile of medications, 
particularly of antivirals, and if so, how much?  If some has 
been ordered, how much and when is it expected? 
 
A:  The GOA plans to stockpile antiviral medications for 25% 
of the population, or approximately two million people.  The 
Ministry of Health and Women is still negotiating with the 
producer of Tamiflu, the antiviral that is seen to be most 
effective, concerning the purchase of these medications. 
Some provincial Austrian states have already ordered Tamiflu 
and will be stockpiling them. 
 
Q:  Does the country have a stockpile of pre-positioned 
personal protective gear? 
 
A:  The government has stockpiles of protective gear for 
people, such as hospital personnel, who would be particularly 
exposed to the virus.  The Pandemic Plan advises that 
protective gear be available for the entire population in 
case of an outbreak of the disease, but the government has 
not stockpiled enough equipment for the entire population. 
The GOA is considering recommending to the public that they 
stockpile equipment, such as masks, themselves. 
 
Q:  What is the rapid response capacity for animal and human 
outbreaks?  Are guidelines in place for the culling and 
vaccination of birds, disinfection of facilities, and 
limitations on animal movement? 
 
A:  The Austrian Contingency Plan and the Pandemic Influenza 
Plan are both in place.  Both elaborate the guidelines for 
the culling of birds, the disinfection of facilities, and the 
limitations on animal movement.  The legal basis for the 
measures are in the Austrian Epizootic Act 
(Tierseuchengesetz, RGBl. Nr. 177/1909) and in the Austrian 
Avian Flu Ordinance (Gefluegelpest-Verordnung, BGBl. Nr. 
465/1995). 
 
Q:  How willing and capable is the government of imposing 
quarantines and social distancing measures (closing schools, 
public gatherings, mass transit)?  Would its military enforce 
quarantines? 
 
A:  Current plans do not foresee imposing quarantines or 
related restrictions.  The GOA only provides for hygienic 
measures in case of human bird flu infections.  If necessary, 
the GOA has sufficient police and military personnel and 
equipment to impose and enforce quarantines. 
MCCAW