VZCZCXRO2591
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHPB
DE RUEHHI #0630/01 0761032
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171032Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1154
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY PRIORITY 0725
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 2898
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 5471
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG PRIORITY 0851
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU PRIORITY 0643
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU PRIORITY 0211
RUEHRO/USMISSION UN ROME PRIORITY
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 1340
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP/ISA/AP// PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC//J2/J3/J5//
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-3//
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J00/J2/J3/J5//
RHEFAFM/DIRAFMIC FT DETRICK MD//MA-1A//

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 000630 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR G, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, EAP/EX, EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, INR, 
OES/STC (PBATES), OES/IHA (DSINGER AND NCOMELLA), AND MED 
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH (DCARROLL, SCLEMENTS AND 
PCHAPLIN) 
STATE PASS TO USTR (ELENA BRYAN) 
STATE PASS TO HHS/OGHA (WSTIEGER, EELVANDER AND ABHAT) 
USDA PASS TO APHIS 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (LSTERN) 
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID (MFRIEDMAN AND JMACARTHUR) 
ROME FOR FAO 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KFLU AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR SOCI VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: MARCH 17 AVIAN INFLUENZA REPORT 
 
REF: HANOI 561 AND PREVIOUS 
 
HANOI 00000630  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary.  There have been no new human Avian 
Influenza (AI) deaths since late October 2005 and no human 
cases since November 9, 2005.  The Government of Vietnam 
(GVN) continues to report no AI outbreaks in poultry since 
the last reported incident on December 17, 2005.  The 
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Cao 
Duc Phat, has agreed to a proposal to vaccinate all flocks 
of "ngan" duck, despite a pilot vaccination of ducks 
resulting in only 40 percent immunity rates.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) As of March 17, 2006: 
 
-- No human AI deaths since October 29, 2005 
-- No new human AI cases since November 9, 2005 
-- No AI outbreaks in poultry since the last reported 
incident on Dec. 17, 2005 in Cao Bang Province 
 
¶3.  According to local press, the Minister of Agriculture 
and Rural Development (MARD), Cao Duc Phat, has agreed to a 
proposal to vaccinate all flocks of "ngan" species of duck, 
despite a pilot vaccination of ducks that resulted in only 
40 percent immunity rates among the study population.  The 
Animal Health Department of MARD put forth the proposal at a 
meeting of the National Steering Committee for Bird Flu 
Prevention in Hanoi on March 14.  The Institute allegedly 
proposed administering the H5N1 vaccine on both chickens and 
ducks since the nationwide vaccination for poultry has shown 
"encouraging results." 
 
¶4.  Liberated Saigon Newspaper reported that a large amount 
of poultry smuggled from China is once again finding its way 
into Vietnam, stating the price gap between the two 
countries is the driving force behind this illegal and 
unsafe activity.  Head of the Animal Health Division of 
Quang Ninh Province Mr. Doan Duy Ai stated that local police 
and market control authorities have detected seven cases of 
poultry smuggling along the Vietnam-China border.  Four tons 
of chickens and 126,000 eggs have been destroyed.  Mr. Ai 
added that only a small portion of the smuggled products are 
sold in Quang Ninh, while the rest is transported to other 
localities, including Hanoi. 
 
¶5.  The news report further stated that illegally imported 
poultry has not been properly controlled in Cao Bang, a 
northern border province.  The report stated that after 
three poultry veterinary stations en route to Cao Bang town 
were shut down, the transport of poultry has taken place 
without inspections.  Several animal officials admitted to 
the difficulty in detecting and seizing illegally imported 
poultry due to the length of the border and limitations of 
local authorities.  Price disparities between China and 
Vietnam are fueling the smuggling of poultry south of the 
border.  The report stated that poultry prices in China are 
roughly VND20,000 (US$1.25) per kilogram compared to poultry 
prices ranging between VND40,000 and VND48,000 (US$2.50 and 
US$3.00) per kilogram in Vietnam. 
 
¶6.  During March 14-16, approximately 100 researchers and 
clinicians gathered in Hanoi for the first meeting of the 
Southeast Asia Influenza Clinical Research Network, a 
 
HANOI 00000630  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
multilateral collaborative partnership committed to 
advancing clinical research with a focus on influenza. 
Partners currently include the National Institute for 
Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services, Oxford University, UK, WHO, 
Mahidol University, Wellcome Trust, the University of 
Indonesia, as well as hospitals and institutions in Vietnam, 
Thailand and Indonesia.  The study to be initially conducted 
by the network is entitled a "High-Dose versus Standard-Dose 
Oseltamivir for the Treatment of Severe Influenza and Avian 
Influenza: A Phase II Double Blind, Randomized Clinical 
Trial."  This study is planned to be conducted at sites in 
Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia and is scheduled to begin in 
the spring of 2006.  Five of the 11 medical institutions 
chosen for the pilot therapy are in Vietnam, including the 
Institute of Tropical Diseases of Bach Mai Hospital in 
Hanoi, the Central Pediatrics Hospital in Hanoi, the 
Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), 
and Children's Hospitals I and II in HCMC. 
 
¶7.  On March 13, the Embassy's Consular Chief visited Bach 
Mai Hospital to discuss AI preparations as well as general 
facilities for private Americans.  Bach Mai Hospital is 
designated as the primary health facility for Hanoi to 
receive foreign patients in the event of an AI outbreak. 
According to the Director of the Hospital's Institute of 
Infectious Disease, foreigners will be given the same 
consideration as Vietnamese citizens in the event of an AI 
outbreak.  The Institute has 120 beds with four rooms 
specifically designated for foreigners; if necessary, 
however, all beds at the hospital will be used for AI and 
other patients would be sent elsewhere.  Two other hospitals 
in Hanoi designated for AI have 300 beds for a total of 420. 
If hospital beds become full in an outbreak, the GVN plans 
to use schools for treating serious AI cases.  The Institute 
has only seven or eight functional respirators.  The 
Director stated that the Institute has 600,000 doses of 
Tamiflu, the equivalent of 30,000 treatment courses.  The 
Director also indicated that 20 million additional tablets 
have been ordered from Roche and are expected in May or 
June. 
 
¶8.  Last week, Post's Health Attache and HHS/CDC Influenza 
Coordinator met with members of the International Emerging 
Infectious Disease Program (IEIP) in Bangkok.  Over the next 
six months, IEIP will be conducting four laboratory 
training courses in Bangkok for mid-level laboratory 
technicians from Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.  A separate 
course in Vientiane will be given to technicians from Laos. 
Each course will enhance skills in use of RT-PCR method for 
nine to twelve students.  In August, IEIP plans to conduct a 
train-the-trainer course on rapid outbreak response 
techniques to 75 responders from the region.  The course 
curriculum is being developed by the University of North 
Carolina. 
 
¶9.  Post's Health Attache and HHS/CDC Influenza Coordinator 
also met last week with the Charge d'Affairs, Political 
Officer and HHS/CDC Influenza Coordinator of Embassy 
Vientiane.  Discussions centered on possible collaboration 
on epidemic preparedness planning and laboratory capacity 
strengthening between Vietnam and Laos. 
 
HANOI 00000630  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
MARINE