VZCZCXRO4629
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHHM #0415/01 1480956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 280956Z MAY 09
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5799
INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 3803
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY PRIORITY 6035
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY 0004
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 000415 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, USAID/ANE, EEB/TPP/BTA/ANA 
USDOC FOR 4431/MAC/AP/OPB/VLC/HPPHO 
CDC FOR COGH (SBLOUNT), CCID (SREDD) AND DIV-FLU (NCOX/AMOHEN) 
HHS/OSSI/DSI PASS TO FIC/NIH (RGLASS) AND OGHA (DMILLER/MABDOO) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO AMED EAGR ECON PINR KFLU VM
SUBJECT: TFFLU01: HCMC EXPANDS NOVEL H1N1 INFLUENZA A OUTREACH AND 
QUARANTINE CAPACITY 
 
REF: A) HONG KONG 887 B) HCMC 338 
 
HO CHI MIN 00000415  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  As of COB May 26, there are no confirmed 
human cases of novel influenza A/H1N1 in Vietnam.  Between April 
26 and May 25, approximately 70 international travelers, 
including 26 AmCits, were quarantined after either exhibiting 
high temperatures on arrival at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat 
(TSN) International Airport or for suspected exposure to H1N1. 
All have tested negative for novel influenza A/H1N1. 
Authorities have assigned six additional doctors to assist at 
the airport's International Quarantine Center, and have 
developed plans to quarantine or treat large numbers of exposed 
or infected individuals.  The HCMC Department of Health (DoH)is 
also allowing some suspected cases to be quarantined in either 
their private homes or hotel rooms.  End Summary. 
 
Still No Confirmed H1N1 Influenza Cases in Vietnam 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶2. (SBU) There are no confirmed human cases of novel Influenza 
A/H1N1 in Vietnam as of COB May 26.  Between April 26 and May 
25, approximately 70 travelers, including 27 Amcits, were 
quarantined for either exhibiting high temperatures upon arrival 
at TSN international airport, or for suspected exposure to H1N1, 
according to Director of the HCMC DoH Dr. Nguyen Van Chau.  On 
the evening of May 25, six travelers, including an Amcit, were 
quarantined upon arrival at TSN international airport after DoH 
authorities were informed by Taipei officials that the six had 
sat near two passengers who tested positive for H1N1 on a flight 
from San Francisco to Taiwan.  While the Amcit tested negative 
for H1N1, the Amcit is still in quarantine as per protocol given 
the chances of false negative results and estimated incubation 
period.  (Note:  According to Dr. Chau, 7,000 international 
passengers pass through TSN airport daily.  End note.) 
 
HCMC-bound Amcit Tests Positive for H1N1 during Korea Stopover 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
¶3. (SBU) In the single incident involving the largest number of 
AmCits, a Vietnamese-American woman travelling from Seattle to 
HCMC on May 17 tested positive for H1N1 while connecting in 
Seoul, South Korea, where she was isolated.  Thirty-five 
passengers from her flight, including 15 AmCits, continued on to 
HCMC, where all were quarantined upon arrival.  According to Dr. 
Chau, two of the Amcits were quarantined in their hotel until 
they returned to the United States on May 23. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Local officials continue to boost novel influenza 
A/H1N1 surveillance capacity at TSN airport.  Six doctors from 
HCMC hospitals were recently assigned by the HCMC DoH to assist 
at TSN airport's International Quarantine Center, and two 
additional thermal scanners for use at TSN airport were recently 
ordered, according to Dr. Chau. 
 
Preparing for the Worst: Increasing Quarantine Capacity 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
¶5. (SBU) Dr. Chau noted that 50 beds in four different hospitals 
are currently set aside for H1N1 quarantine patients.  If more 
than these 200 beds are required, the entire 500 bed Tropical 
Disease Hospital will become a H1N1 quarantine and treatment 
facility.  Concurrently, each of HCMC's 24 districts is 
preparing a large public facility for possible use as a 
quarantine location. 
 
HCMC Footing Bill for Quarantine Costs 
-------------------------------------- 
¶6. (SBU) Dr. Chau noted that so far quarantined travelers were 
being fed, housed, and treated (each standard PCR diagnosis 
costs the DoH 200 USD) at HCMC government expense.  HCMC 
authorities are also negotiating to secure a large hotel in the 
event that they need to house larger number of quarantined 
travelers "in greater comfort."  Dr. Chau also noted that some 
suspected cases were being quarantined in private homes or 
individually-rented hotel rooms.  In those cases, DoH officials 
visit the individuals twice a day to monitor temperature and 
other influenza symptoms. 
 
DoH Prepares Health Care System to Treat H1N1 
--------------------------------------------- 
¶7. (SBU) DoH staff, as well as health professionals from the 
Tropical Disease Hospital, are conducting training courses on 
treatment of novel Influenza A/H1N1 at all of HCMC's hospitals, 
according to Dr. Chau.  Stocks of the anti-viral medication 
oseltamivir (Tamiflu) have been distributed to all hospitals in 
the area, including hospitals catering to foreigners, he said. 
 
 
HO CHI MIN 00000415  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Media Coverage and Public Outreach Remain on Track 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
¶8. (SBU) DoH has ramped up its H1N1 outreach campaign, running 
frequent television, radio, and newspaper ads that educate the 
public on influenza basics, including how to identify symptoms 
and avoid detection.  They not only advise those exhibiting 
flu-like symptoms to seek medical attention, but urge the public 
to inform local medical centers of neighbors or work colleagues 
with influenza-like symptoms.  The World Health Organization 
(WHO) conducted a training seminar on May 14 to educate 
journalists from southern media outlets about H1N1 fundamentals. 
 Local media coverage has remained level-headed.  Unlike in 
China or Hong Kong, no reports critical of the U.S. handling of 
the H1N1 outbreak have appeared in the Vietnamese media (ref A). 
 In contrast, newspaper articles frequently make detailed 
mention of U.S. influenza assistance. 
 
Comment: 
------- 
¶9. (SBU) HCMC officials continue to run an aggressive influenza 
A/H1N1 surveillance and public outreach program.  The major 
change since post's initial report (ref B) is the introduction 
of less stringent quarantine techniques, where some individuals 
suspected of H1N1 are allowed to remain at home, or if 
travelers, in their hotel rooms.  While voluntary quarantine may 
minimize city expenditures, there are concerns that if not 
strictly enforced it may compromise influenza containment. 
Mission is encouraging all AmCits to comply with quarantine 
measures.  End Comment. 
 
¶10. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Hanoi. 
DICKEY