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OO RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
RUEHTM
DE RUEHHI #0887/01 2130936
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 310936Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8217
INFO RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4973
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3347
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5893
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 1484
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0904
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0367
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 1610
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE 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 05 HANOI 000887 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, INR, OES/STC, OES/IHA, MED, OGAC 
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP (STERN) 
HHS/OSSI/DSI PASS TO FIC/NIH (RGLASS) AND OGHA 
(WSTIEGER/LVALDEZDMILLER) 
USAID FOR ANE (CJENNINGS, MWARD) AND GH (KYAMASHITA, KHILL) 
CDC FOR COGH (SBLOUNT), CCID (SREDD) AND DIV-FLU(COX/MOHEN) 
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA), FSIS 
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC (MMALISON), USAID (MACARTHUR/MBRADY/CBOWES), 
APHIS (NCARDENAS), REO (JWALLER) 
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (BROSS) 
PHNOM PENH FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR(BBRADY) 
ROME FOR FAO 
VIENTIANE FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR (ACORWIN) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO AMED EAGR PINR KFLU VM
SUBJECT: VACCINATIONS AND MODERNIZATION - KEY COMPONENTS TO 
VIETNAM'S FIGHT AGAINS BIRD FLU 
 
HANOI 00000887  001.2 OF 005 
 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: In three southern provinces looking to boost poultry 
production, local officials and businesses have focused on the 
development of large-scale modern poultry farms and comprehensive 
vaccination programs as the keys to avian influenza prevention 
efforts.  Provincial officials proudly noted no human cases or 
animal outbreaks over the past three years.  Thai-based 
multinational CP Group is working with local partners to create 
self-contained chicken and (eventually) duck farms that will reduce 
the risks of the spread of avian infuenza. End Summary. 
 
The Poultry Sector in Dong Nai, Binh Duong 
 and Binh Phuoc Provinces 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) Farmers in Dong Nai province, just north of Ho Chi Minh City, 
raise five to six million chickens per year.  Noting that ducks 
appear to be better suited as avian influenza carriers than 
chickens, Dong Nai has not promoted duck production, with only a 
fairly small (60,000 to 250,000) number of ducks raised in the 
province.  Dong Nai has focused on large-scale farms with a 
relatively small percentage of poultry (less than 20 percent) raised 
in backyard farms.  Their counterparts in bordering Binh Duong 
province raise approximately two million birds per year, of which 
1.2 million are raised in commercial farms.  Backyard farms remained 
a custom for locals and officials doubted their ability to give it 
up.  Binh Phuoc province along the Cambodian border has about 1.3 
million birds, though that number can go as high as two million or 
as low as one million.  Most birds in Binh Phuoc are raised in 
backyard farms or mid-sized open farms with only five self-contained 
(or "closed") commercial facilities. 
 
Master Plans for Development of the Poultry Sector 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶3. (SBU) While Dong Nai already has a thriving commercial poultry 
sector, Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc provincial officials stressed 
their intention to develop industrial husbandry, made explicit in 
the provinces' master plans for poultry raising.  Binh Phuoc has set 
a target for 2020 of 90 percent of all poultry raised in 
self-contained commercial farms.  Each province targets foreign 
investors, who already control many of the commercial facilities. 
Dong Nai's master poultry plan has moved beyond simply promoting 
commercial production and contains detailed restrictions on the 
locations of commercial farms, while providing investment incentives 
to lease land and build infrastructure for commercial farms. Dong 
Nai would like to mandate high-tech husbandry techniques, but 
worries that few traditional farmers could afford the initial 
investments. 
 
Pros and (Few) Cons of Self-Contained Commercial Farms 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) According to provincial officials, large scale, commercial 
farms typically had higher awareness of avian influenza, were easier 
to monitor and more receptive to technical assistance for avian 
 
HANOI 00000887  002.2 OF 005 
 
 
influenza protection.  The Binh Duong Department of Agriculture and 
Rural Development (DARD) noted that the profit motive caused larger 
commercial farms to protect their flocks and recognize the 
importance of good hygiene.  Dong Nai official highlighted better 
compliance with biosafety requirements.  On the downside, Binh Duong 
officials stated that larger, open farms could cause environmental 
problems, particularly if sited near residential areas (Note: Binh 
Phuoc officials thought that commercial farms had no downside). 
Dong Nai officials stated that while modern, self-contained farms 
provide the best protection against the spread of avian influenza, 
their price tag, roughly one billion Dong (approximately USD 60,000) 
for facilities that can handle 10,000 poultry at a time, may be too 
expensive for many poultry farmers. 
 
Vaccinations a Key Part of Anti-Avian Influenza Efforts 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Authorities in each province enthusiastically supported the 
animal vaccination program, which they viewed as key to the effort 
to contain avian influenza, particularly among small backyard flocks 
still common in their jurisdictions.  Dong Nai animal health 
officials stated that the province would continue animal 
vaccinations regardless of central government backing.  Each 
province implements biannual vaccination programs (on slightly 
different timetables) that cover the large majority of poultry. 
Binh Duong animal health officials estimated that the vaccination 
program covered approximately 90 percent of poultry raised in the 
province.  Unlike Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc only managed to vaccinate 
about 60 percent of its chickens each year and officials noted 
difficulties reaching some of the smaller backyard flocks. Dong Nai 
officials generally noted high vaccination rates, but did not 
provide specific figures. In each province, the central government 
funds the vaccinations (using a Chinese vaccine) for backyard 
flocks, while commercial farms must pay for their vaccinations 
(observed by local Department of Animal Health (DAH) officials). 
The provinces pay the salaries of the vaccinators from their DAHs 
and typically purchase much of the necessary equipment.  Each 
province claims to monitor the effectiveness of vaccinations (Dong 
Nai estimated about 80 percent success, while Binh Phuoc stated 
about 60 percent).  Dong Nai, which appeared to have the best 
organized strategy, stated that it would order revaccinations if it 
detected antibodies in less than 70 percent of vaccinated birds. 
 
Other Strategies 
---------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Our interlocutors emphasized other measures that they had 
taken to minimize the avian influenza threat.  Each noted public 
awareness campaigns, particularly targeted at those who raised small 
backyard flocks, along with strong links to district and commune 
authorities.  Each emphasized that the Vice-Chair of the Provincial 
People's Committee chaired the provincial avian influenza steering 
committee, with deputy chairs from the Departments of Health and the 
Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development.  They also noted 
regional efforts among bordering provinces.  For example, thirteen 
southern provinces surrounding Ho Chi Minh City, led by Region six 
 
HANOI 00000887  003.2 OF 005 
 
 
of the Vietnam Department of Animal Health, had signed a cooperative 
agreement on transportation control, information sharing and 
notification in case of any outbreaks.  Local officials also 
emphasized their attempts to eliminate free-range flocks - even 
among backyard farmers -- and ensure that all flocks were located in 
rural areas, outside the heavily populated cities. 
 
The New Breed: Visits to Self-Contained Chicken Farms 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Visits to two commercial chicken farms showed modern 
facilities and biosecurity practices designed to protect chickens 
from avian influenza.  CP Group, the giant Thai conglomerate funding 
these sites, also is piloting a large-scale duck farm and hopes to 
develop similar modern facilities for duck raising in Vietnam in the 
near future.   As part of this plan, CP hopes to finance the 
construction of 1,000 commercial farms - some modern, closed 
facilities and other, smaller and open facilities, designed to raise 
poultry for the domestic market.  However, before commencing this 
major expansion, CP wants to ensure that Vietnam maintains its 
strong avian influenza prevention programs. 
 
¶8. (SBU) In 2007, following consultation with local DAH officials, 
the Thuy Tao Cooling Chicken farm in Binh Phuoc province was sited 
in the middle of a rubber plantation, in order to better protect the 
environment and possible exposure to or spread of avian influenza. 
Costing 35 billion Dong (approximately USD 2.1 million), the farm 
can raise nearly 200,000 chickens per year.  The owner plans to open 
a 200 billion Dong (approximately USD 12 million) facility nearby in 
2010 that will be five times larger.  The Mai Dinh Phon chicken farm 
in Dong Nai, constructed in 2006, raises 180,000 chickens per 
generation. In both cases, the local Vietnamese owners signed an 
agreement with CP Group, under which CP sends chicks recently 
hatched in an industrial zone in Bien Hoa to be raised for 45 days 
prior to shipment to a CP processing facility for slaughtering.  To 
prevent the risk of disease transmission, the facilities accept one 
generation of equal aged chicks at a time.  CP pays for, provides 
and performs vaccinations for all chickens prior to arrival at the 
facility and during the breeding period, using the Trovac vaccine 
imported from the United States.  CP also provides feed, marketing, 
and the modern imported equipment used to limit human exposure to 
the poultry.  The facility owners pay off a portion of their debt 
with the sale of each generation of chickens. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The facilities depend upon modern, automated feeding and 
cooling systems to limit human-chicken exposure and maintain strict 
hygiene standards for staff that may come into contact with the 
birds.  To minimize outside exposure, the Binh Phuoc facility 
requires staff to remain on the facility grounds for the entire 45 
day life-cycle of a generation of chicks, while the Dong Nai 
facility allows workers to leave the facility only on Sundays. 
Workers take frequent decontamination showers, wear sanitary 
coverings if they enter chicken houses, change shoes for every third 
visit and must change clothes when entering the facilities, which 
are surrounded by barbed-wire topped 10 foot walls.  Chickens 
receive food and water through an automated system controlled 
 
HANOI 00000887  004.2 OF 005 
 
 
outside their coops. At both facilities, air enters the coops only 
through cooling systems that are cleaned every day to eliminate 
bacteria.  The facilities use German technology to dry chicken 
waste, which they collect and sell to a fertilizer company.  The 
Dong Nai facility maintains a three week buffer between generations 
of chickens during which it follows a detailed and stringent 
cleaning and decontamination procedure for the coops, feeding and 
water troughs. 
 
Ducks Not on the Pond: Can Modern Duck Farms Succeed? 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) The CP-sponsored 150 million Dong (approximately USD 
9,000) pilot duck farm in Binh Duong province may provide new tools 
for the Vietnamese poultry sector's efforts to control avian 
influenza in the duck population.  Traditionally, Vietnamese duck 
breeders have focused on raising smaller, free-range flocks in 
waterways or flooded rice fields.  However, exposure to other duck 
flocks and wild birds increased the odds of spreading avian 
influenza.  The CP duck farm, again located in a rural area far from 
human population centers or other breeding sites, was designed to 
minimize exposure to other birds.  The duck farm keeps up to 3,000 
ducks in each of two houses for a seven week period after hatching. 
Unlike free range ducks, these birds do not have access to a body of 
water and CP is studying the overall health of the ducks raised in 
containment before fully committing to a modern, self-contained 
facility, like those already in service for chickens.  CP hopes that 
a self-contained duck farm would, like those for chickens, eliminate 
exposure to avian influenza and other diseases through minimal 
contact with humans and other birds, together with strong monitoring 
and complete vaccinations.  At the facility, ducks receive two 
series of vaccinations, at 14 days and at 35 days, administered by 
CP with observers from the provincial Department of Animal Health. 
According to CP, to date, the six month old facility has had 
success, with a low death rate and high average bird weight for the 
first generation. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) Self-contained, modern facilities, possibly combined with 
continued, well-organized vaccination programs, may form the basis 
for long-term efforts to control avian influenza.  Certainly, local 
authorities feel that way.  Indeed, commercial operations with 
strong bio-security practices should limit exposure to the disease 
and are a necessary upgrade to Vietnam's poultry-raising practices. 
A well-maintained and -monitored poultry husbandry system may limit 
the need for continued, costly vaccinations.  However, these pricey 
facilities are beyond the means of most Vietnamese chicken farmers, 
particularly those who raise small backyard flocks for the family 
table or small-scale trading.  And, we find it likely that some 
commercial operations do not follow CP's model hygiene practices. 
Self-contained facilities may be a large part of the solution - but 
figuring out the exact equation will take some time. 
 
¶12. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate General Ho Chi 
 
HANOI 00000887  005.2 OF 005 
 
 
Minh City. 
 
MICHALAK