VZCZCXRO7816
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1357 2131642
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011642Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5967
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 3434
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6950
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHSUN/USUN ROME IT
UNCLAS HANOI 001357
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, OES/IHA, MED
STATE PASS TO HHS/OGHA (STIEGER/VALDEZ/BELL/HICKEY)
CDC FOR OGHA (BLOUT/MCCALL) AND DIV-FLU (COX/MOHEN)
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA), FSIS
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC (MALISON), USAID (MACARTHUR/BRADY)
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (ROSS)
PHNOM PENH FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR(BRADY)
VIENTIANE FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR (CORWIN)
ROME FOR FAO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO AMED EAGR KFLU VM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORTS OF HUMAN STREPTOCOCUS CASES LINKED TO
OUTBREAK OF BLUE EAR DISEASE IN SWINE
1. (U) Vietnamese media recently reported 42 human cases of disease
caused by infection with Streptococcus suis, a bacterial infection
that can be contracted after coming into direct contact with an
infected pig or eating pork or blood from an infected pig. The
bacteria can cause internal hemorrhage and high fever, in addition
to meningitis or infection of the blood or heart. The disease can
be fatal.
2. (U) Vietnamese media have reported two confirmed human deaths due
to infections with S. suis. Vietnam health officials have reported
cases throughout the country and have called for measures to
increase surveillance at local levels. There have been recent
improvements in diagnostic capacity for S. suis in Vietnam. (Note:
Given our poor understanding of the background incidence of human S.
suis infections, particularly in the North, it is difficult to say
whether this represents a significant increase in incidence this
year. End note.)
3. (U) These reports coincide with media reports of Porcine
Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus outbreak. More
than 27,000 pigs in central Vietnam have reported succumbed to the
virus, which is also known as "blue ear disease." While S. suis is
not known to be directly related to PRRS, it is possible that the
outbreak of PRRS has increased human contact with dead pigs and have
therefore increased exposure to risk factors for S. suis infection.
Most cases to date have had a confirmed occupational history of
exposure to raw pork meat (e.g., slaughterhouse worker or commercial
butcher) or similar contact. Mission Hanoi will continue to monitor
the situation and will provide additional reports if necessary.
MARINE