VZCZCXRO9608
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #1593/01 1591024
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081024Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5013
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
INFO RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J07/CATMED/CAT//
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 7986
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0802
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1009
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7577
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001593
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG AND OES
USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL
DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/WSTEIGER/ABHAT/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH
GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO AMED CASC EAGR AMGT PGOV ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA - JUNE 8 AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE
REF: A) Jakarta 1492 B) Jakarta 1331 and previous
1. (SBU) Summary. Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari
reportedly announced on June 6 that Indonesia and Australia plan to
jointly develop an AI vaccine, but privately, the Australian Embassy
and National Institute of Health Research and Development (NIHRD)
both expressed surprise at this announcement. On May 28, NIHRD
Director Dr. Triono Soendoro told visiting Senate Appropriations'
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Minority Clerk Paul Grove that he would be interested in seeking
"behind the scenes" meetings with the U.S. to find a middle ground
on material transfer agreements and other sample sharing issues.
The Indonesian press reported the week of May 27 that the Ministry
of Health (MOH) would send AI virus samples and other biological
specimens only to countries and industries that respect Law 32/1992,
which reportedly requires some sort of a material transfer document.
The MOH has reported one new AI case since Ref A. End Summary.
Press Announces Australian-Indonesian Vaccine Plans
--------------------------------------------- -------
2. (SBU) The Indonesian press reported on June 7 that Health
Minister Siti Fadilah Supari had announced that Indonesia and
Australia plan to jointly develop an AI vaccine. According to
Supari, the two countries will detail the cooperation in a
forthcoming bilateral agreement. Supari reportedly made the
announcement on June 6 before meeting Australian Minister of Health
Tony Abbott on the sidelines of the June 6-8 APEC Health Ministers
meeting. However, when questioned about the article, staff at both
the Australian Embassy and NIHRD indicated surprise at the
announcement. Australian Embassy contacts expressed some skepticism
about the report given other inaccurate press stories about an
alleged promise by Abbott to supply Indonesia with antivirals and
vaccines. Dr. Endang Sedyaningsih, the NIHRD's Director of
Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Development, noted that
Triono is with the Supari in Australia and may well have discussed a
joint vaccine development deal. She added that Indonesia is open to
agreements with multiple companies.
Staff Delegation visits AI Hospital and BEP Sites
--------------------------------------------- ----
3. (SBU) During visit to AI related sites on May 28, Triono told
visiting Senate staff member Paul Grove and the Charge that he is
interested in meeting "behind the scenes" with USG representatives
to find compromise solutions to remaining sample sharing concerns.
Triono noted special interest in meeting with HHS Assistant
Secretary of Health John Agwunobi. Triono said he had met briefly
SIPDIS
with Agwunobi during the May 14-23 World Health Assembly. Triono
also praised the Department's Biosecurity Engagement Program for its
assistance to Libtangkes in designing the Biosafety Level 3
laboratory and for providing technical training.
4. (SBU) In addition to his tour of NIHRD, Grove visited the
Sulianto Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital, one of Indonesian's 44
designated AI referral hospitals on May 28 and Balitvet, the
research laboratory under Ministry of Agriculture on May 29.
Balitvet staff told Grove that a recently Biosecurity Engagement
Program (BEP) installed security alarm system had foiled a May 28
burglary attempt into the lab. Balitvet staff also praised BEP
related program assistance.
Indonesian Press Cover AI Sample Sharing Issues
--------------------------------------------- --
5. (U) During the week of May 27, Indonesian press ran several
stories on MOH plans for future sample sharing. According to a May
27 story in the Indonesian language daily KOMPAS, the GOI will only
send AI virus and other biological samples to interested countries
and industries in accordance with Law 32/1992, which requires
material transfer documents. Kompas reported Minister Supari as
saying on May 26 "I open the door; whoever needs bird flu virus
samples is welcomed to contact Indonesia. However, because the
regulations on how to send the samples are not yet available, it
will be done in line with domestic regulations, including Law
JAKARTA 00001593 002 OF 002
32/1992." According to Indonesian regulations, Material Transfer
Documents (MTDs) must accompany biological specimens so that the
government knows the identity of specimen recipients and has a
guarantee that the virus specimens won't be misused. On May 28,
Media Indonesia featured a similar story. Indonesia has not sent
additional samples to the WHO Collaborating Center in Tokyo since
May 10.
AI Human Case Reports
-----------------------
6. (SBU) The MOH reports one new human AI case since Ref A. A
45-year-old Indonesian man from Grobogan, central Java, died of
suspected H5N1 infection on May 28, two days after hospitalized at
Muwardi Hospital in Solo. Ario Wirawan Hospital in Salatiga, West
Java, referred the man after he exhibited fever and dyspnea for two
weeks. His illness began 19 May, after he reportedly consumed a
sick chicken. Six of his chickens died several weeks previously.
The NIHRD laboratory confirmed the samples.
7. (SBU) As of June 8, both the MOH and WHO report 99 total
confirmed human AI cases in Indonesia with 79 deaths for a fatality
rate of 80%.
HEFFERN