VZCZCXRO9572
RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
DE RUEHHI #0080/01 0240434
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240434Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7036
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4174
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3227
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5803
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 1331
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0844
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0341
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 1550
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP/ISA/AP//
RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC//J2/J3/J5//
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-3//
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J00/J2/J3/J5//
RHEFAFM/DIRAFMIC FT DETRICK MD//MA-1A//
RUEHSUN/USUN ROME IT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000080 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, INR, OES/STC, OES/IHA, MED 
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (STERN) 
HHS/OSSI/DSI PASS TO OGHA (WSTIEGER/LVALDEZ/CHICKEY) AND 
FIC/NIH (RGLASS) AND DIV-FLU (COX/MOHEN) 
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA), AND FSIS 
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC (MMALISON), USAID (CBOWES/JMACARTHUR/MBRADY) 
BANGKOK FOR APHIS (NCARDENAS), REO (JWALLER) 
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (ROSS) 
PHNOM PENH FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR(BRADY) 
ROME FOR FAO 
VIENTIANE FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR (CORWIN) 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR KFLU VM
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - VIETNAM'S FIRST HUMAN FATALITY OF 
2008 
 
REF: 07 HANOI 2116 
 
HANOI 00000080  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  Contacts at the National Institute for Infectious 
and Tropical Diseases (NIITD) confirmed to Embassy staff the first 
human infection and fatality due to H5N1 in Vietnam for 2008.  On 
January 18, a Vietnamese man from Tuyen Quang province passed away 
after consuming members of his flock of poultry that had become ill 
and died.  Government of Vietnam (GVN) animal health officials 
responded and reported that several samples from nearby poultry also 
tested positive for the H5N1 strain of influenza A.  Though the 
patient died five days ago, the Government of Vietnam (GVN) 
offically notified the WHO on the evening of January 23.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.(U) On Tuesday January 22, multiple international and local media, 
quoting state-run media and government sources, reported the death 
of a 32-year-old Vietnamese man from Lem village, Khang commune, Son 
Duong District, Tuyen Quang  Province (north of Hanoi) earlier this 
week at Hanoi's National Institute for Infectious and Tropical 
Diseases (NIITD).  The victim initially became ill on January 16 
after preparing and eating previously dead poultry.  Family members 
also ate the poultry, though we have no reports at this time of 
additional human illness. 
 
¶3. (SBU) NIITD staff confirmed to Health and Human Services (HHS) 
officers that the man was admitted to NIITD in Hanoi after 1700 on 
January 16.  NIITD staff took human samples as per protocol.  On 
January 17, testing of these samples came back positive for H5N1 and 
NIITD enrolled the patient in a clinical trial examining an 
anti-viral medication.  The patient, a member of an ethic minority 
group (Cao Lan), died at 1730 on January 18.  GVN authorities had 
yet to notify the WHO of the death and the positive test result for 
H5N1 as the evening of January 23. 
¶4. (U) According to media reports, a relative of the dead man stated 
that dead chicken and white-winged ducks were present near the 
patient's home in early January.  Per other media reports, the 
National Center of Veterinary  Diagnostics of the Department of 
Animal Health (DAH) obtained positive results on January 19 for H5N1 
in 3 out of 11 samples of poultry from five neigboring households 
(including 10 chickens and one Muscovy duck).  Provincial Veterinary 
Sub-department authorities then collaborated with the commune 
officials to cull all 535 fowl in the village and to sterilize the 
area. 
¶5. (SBU) USDA/FAS contacts in the Department of Animal Health within 
the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed that the 
dead man kept an eight bird flock.  In early January, six died (two 
chickens and four Muscovy ducks).  The victim kept the remaining two 
animals (Muscovy ducks) and invited seven neighbors to dinner.  One 
week later, the man developed a fever.  None of the neighbors have 
yet developed symptoms. 
¶6. (SBU) Comment: Like the most recent human fatality from late 2007 
(reftel), this case occured in a relatively remote province on which 
the GVN has not focused its avian influenza response campaign 
(including mandatory vaccinations).  Both involved members of an 
ethnic minority who ate either sick or already dead poultry. 
Although the overall number and intesity of animal outbreaks remains 
substantially lower than this time period last year, human exposure 
 
HANOI 00000080  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
through high risk behaviors, such as handling and prepapring sick or 
already dead poultry, appear common in some areas.  Additionally, in 
both cases, the GVN failed to promptly notify the WHO.  We will 
remind our Vietnamese interlocutors of the need for prompt 
notification to ensure proper international response and suggest 
that the GVN consider increased education efforts in non-focus 
provinces and among minority groups.  End comment. 
 
MICHALAK