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

201024Z Jan 06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000180 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR USAID WASHDC 
STATE FOR G; CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; EAP/EX; EAP/MLS; EAP/EP; INR; 
OES/STC (PBATES); OES/IHA (DSINGER AND NCOMELLA) 
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID/RDM/A (MFRIEDMAN AND JMACARTHUR) 
USDA FOR FAS/PASS TO APHIS 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (LSTERN) 
USAID FOR ANE AND GH (DCARROLL, SCLEMENTS AND PCHAPLIN) 
STATE PASS USTR (ELENA BRYAN) 
STATE ALSO PASS HHS/OGHA (EELVANDER) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR SOCI PGOV TBIO VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: AVIAN INFLUENZA WEEKLY REPORT FOR JANUARY 
20, 2006 
 
REF: HANOI 122 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  There have been no new human Avian 
Influenza (AI) deaths since late October 2005 and no human 
cases over the past 64 days.  As of January 20, the 
Government of Vietnam (GVN) reports no AI outbreaks in 
poultry since the last reported incident on December 17, 
2005 in Cao Bang Province.  Post believes it is premature to 
declare victory given that AI is endemic to poultry in 
Vietnam, surveillance remains limited and we have reports 
that the nationwide vaccination program has had significant 
problems in some provinces.  The GVN's National AI Steering 
Committee met to discuss preparedness for the Tet holiday 
season.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 
actively supporting GVN's poultry vaccination campaign with 
needed diagnostic supplies and training.  Post's AI Working 
Group met to review a comprehensive draft AI Pandemic Plan 
of Action, prepare for an AI tabletop exercise in early 
February and discussed continued public outreach to the 
American community in Hanoi.  End Summary. 
 
AI Snapshot 
----------- 
 
¶2.  (U) As of January 20, 2006: 
 
-- No human AI deaths since October 29 
-- No new human AI cases in the past 64 days 
-- No AI outbreaks in poultry since the last reported 
incident on Dec. 17, 2005 in Cao Bang Province 
 
AI "Contained" 
-------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) International and national press have reported 
that Vietnam has successfully contained bird flu and that no 
AI outbreaks have been detected over the past four weeks. 
(NOTE: As previously reported, Post believes it is premature 
to declare victory given that AI is endemic to poultry in 
Vietnam, surveillance remains limited, and we have reports 
that the nationwide vaccination program has had significant 
problems in some provinces.) 
 
National AI Steering Committee Meeting in Hanoi 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶4.  (U) The National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Control 
met in Hanoi on January 16 and local media reported that 
representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, 
Transport and Communications, and Trade expressed concern 
over complicated AI developments in European Union 
countries, Japan and China.  Officials warned that weather 
changes, increased volume of holiday travelers in tightly 
confined areas (i.e. buses, trains, etc.) and the 
transportation of popular poultry products during the 
traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival could cause an 
outbreak at any time and anywhere. 
 
¶5.  (U) At the same meeting, Minister of Agriculture and 
Rural Development (MARD) Cao Duc Phat reportedly stated that 
MARD will organize a meeting with the diplomatic corps to 
inform them of Vietnam's successful control of avian flu. 
Minister Phat also called for specific regulations on 
establishing slaughterhouses in rural areas, including 
guidelines for their sterilization and sanitation.  MARD 
Director of the Animal Breeding Department Nguyen Dang Vang 
was quoted in local press saying that many domestic and 
foreign enterprises have applied for building poultry 
slaughtering houses with capacity of about 1,000 domestic 
fowls per day in order to meet increasing demand for safe 
poultry products. 
 
More on Poultry Vaccination Campaign 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶6.  (U) As previously reported (reftel), the GVN is 
currently stockpiling vaccines for their next round of 
nationwide poultry vaccination.  According to local press, 
the MARD Department of Animal Health (DAH) has reserved 40 
million doses of vaccine and has imported an additional 150 
million doses of vaccine in order to help provinces continue 
the poultry vaccination program.  To date, localities across 
the country have completed their second round of vaccination 
for over 120 million poultry. 
 
¶7.  (U) USDA's National Veterinary Science Laboratory (NVSL) 
is supplying diagnostic reagents in addition to those 
already supplied in connection with December real-time PCR 
training program in order to fulfill critical GVN needs. 
USDA is also urgently seeking a lab specialist for a three 
to six month temporarily assigned to the southern area of 
Vietnam.  This would complement a Japanese specialist who 
provides technical assistance to the DAH in northern 
Vietnam.  USDA will also sponsor two Vietnamese senior 
laboratory officials on a two-week study tour in the United 
States to learn about advanced laboratory techniques and 
laboratory management. 
 
Mission AIWG Meeting 
-------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) On January 19, core members of Post's AI Working 
Group (AIWG) met to revise and refine the Mission's AI 
Pandemic Plan and Action Checklist.  The group reviewed FSO 
and LES drawdown lists and tripwires.  Specific roles for 
drawdown staff during a worse case scenario were also 
discussed.  The group also discussed plans to organize an AI 
tabletop exercise that would involve the Emergency Action 
Committee (EAC).  An Embassy town meeting to include AI for 
staff will be held in conjunction with the visit of State 
Med Director Dr. Laurence Brown next week.  Post will 
continue its efforts to inform the American community on AI 
preparation. 
 
BOARDMAN