VZCZCXRO8445
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHVN #0036/01 0160806
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160806Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0774
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2080
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0306
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0962
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0100
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1128
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0188
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0069
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0210
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0119
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENTIANE 000036 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR G, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, EAP/EX, EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, INR, OES/STC 
(PBATES), OES/IHA (DSINGER AND NCOMELLA), MED, AND H; 
 
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH (CARROLL, ACLEMENTS, AND 
CJENNINGS) 
 
STATE PASS TO USTR (DBISBEE) 
 
STATE PASS TO HHS/OGHA (WSTEIGER, EELVANDER, AND ABHAT) 
 
USDA PASS TO APHIS 
 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (LSTERN) 
 
BANGKOK FOR RMO, DCD, USAID (JMACARTHUR AND MBRADY) 
 
ROME FOR FAO 
 
PACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KFLU SOCI SCUL PREL AMED AMGT CASC EAGR EAID
PREL, ETRD, LA 
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA - WEEKLY REPORT FOR JANUARY 12, 2007 
 
VIENTIANE 00000036  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Following are recent Avian Influenza (AI)-related 
developments in Laos: 
 
-- There have been no new outbreaks since our last report. 
 
-- Representative McCollum's visit to Vientiane's leading hospital 
both to learn about its capabilities and to express the need for 
focus on the AI issue over the long term. 
 
-- The AI Partners Group raised questions about how planned Louis 
Pasteur Institute Laos would fit into AI pandemic planning, heard 
about newly-established laboratory diagnostic capabilities resulting 
from the US CDC - WHO Collaboration, and questioned the adequacy of 
funding for a planned AI compensation plan expected in March. 
 
¶2. There have been no AI outbreaks in Laos since our last report. 
 
Representative McCollum's Visit 
------------------------------- 
¶3. Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MIN) learned first-hand about 
Vientiane's main Mahasot Hospital during her recent visit to Laos. 
She discussed available and needed resources in recognizing suspect 
cases of human avian influenza (AI) and reviewed corresponding 
clinical case management practices.  Dr. Changpheng THAMMAVONG 
(Director) and Dr. Bounkong SIHAVONG (Deputy Director) described 
measures taken in preparing Mahasot Hospital, the Principal National 
Referral Hospital for Laos, to respond to a possible AI pandemic. 
 
¶4. Congresswoman McCollum expressed a keen appreciation for actions 
taken by the Mahasot Hospital staff to date.  However, she expressed 
concern that clinical resources at the local level in Laos may not 
be adequate for case management and infection control demands 
brought on by a pandemic.  The Congresswoman encouraged vigilance 
and noted growing concern that the real challenge into the future, 
in the absence of pandemic conditions in the short term, will be to 
maintain AI preparation as a priority focus.  She pointed out that 
we might not realize a pandemic for many years, but nevertheless 
need to maintain a high state of alert. 
 
AI Partners Meeting 
------------------- 
¶5. The Meeting of the Partners' Group for Avian and Human Influenza 
(PGAHI), chaired by Minister of Health Dr. Ponmek Dalaloy with UN 
Resident Coordinator Ms. Sonam Yangchen Rana as vice-chair, was 
convened January 11 to update and solicit input from the Donor 
Community.  Dr. Bounlay Phommasac, Director, National Avian and 
Human Influenza Coordinating Office (NAHICO), provided an overview 
of progress in implementing the five strategies identified in the 
National AI Pandemic Plan.  The GOL expressed appreciation for USG 
assistance through UN (WHO and FAO) and NGO partners (AED and Care 
International). 
 
¶6. The EC Representative and other donors expressed concern about 
the establishment and funding of the planned Louis Pasteur Institute 
Laos, and specifically, asked how this ambitious initiative fit into 
 
VIENTIANE 00000036  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
the National AI Pandemic Plan.  Dr. Nao Bouta provided clarification 
as to the nationality of the new Institute, making clear it was Lao, 
and "only borrowing the Pasteur name". Clearly, while the MOU 
regarding the establishment of the Pasteur Institute Lao has been 
signed, there remain significant issues yet to be resolved, 
including the organization of the new Pasteur Institute Lao 
vis-a-vis the existing National Center for Laboratory and 
Epidemiology.  The GOL agreed, upon the suggestion of the French 
Ambassador and seconded by the Ambassador, to convene a Donors 
Meeting to discuss the specifics of the planned Institute and to 
include potential donors, such as the US, EC (through the World Bank 
Trust Fund), and the ADB.  The Ambassador urged the GOL to avoid 
unnecessary duplication of lab facilities. 
 
¶7. WHO informed donors of newly-established laboratory diagnostic 
capabilities to detect seasonal and avian influenza viruses, 
supported by the US CDC - WHO Collaboration.  This notable 
accomplishment involved significant bio-safety enhancement to spaces 
at the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology for 
functional (and first-time) RT-PCR functions.  The US CDC - WHO 
Collaboration equipped and supplied the laboratory, and carried out 
training of NCLE staff. 
 
¶8. The GOL also announced that its compensation plan decree will be 
issued in March 2007.  A draft plan presented to the donors included 
varies levels of monetary compensation for commercial and backyard 
poultry farmers and penalties for those who fail to comply.  The 
plan also addressed compensation for GOL health workers and others 
who could come in contact with AI through occupational exposures. 
At that time the GOL also hopes to have clarification on whether 
donors other than the World Bank (via the Trust Fund) have plans to 
support the plan.  Recently, the World Bank set aside $350k for 
compensation, but funds could not be used to pay retroactively 
farmers who were forced to kill their poultry in during previous 
outbreaks, most notably the Xatany Outbreak in July 2006.  Donors 
expressed concern that this amount is inadequate and that setting 
money aside (without earning interest etc.) would not be the best 
use of donor funds.  The UN indicated that it is studying a possible 
revolving fund.  The Ambassador said that compensation in kind - 
such as breeder stock, chicks etc. - should also be considered. 
 
HASLACH