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R 240738Z JAN 08
FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6820
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP/ISA/AP//
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC//J2/J3/J5//
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J00/J2/J3/J5//
RUEORDA/DIRAFMIC FT DETRICK MD//MA-1A//
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUANGZHOU 000043
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, AIAG, OES/IHA, MED
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH
CDC FOR OGHA AND DIV-FLU
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP
HHS PASS TO FIC/NIH
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA), FSIS
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE AND RMO
PHNOM PENH FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR
VIENTIANE FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO AMED AMGT CASC EAGR PINR KFLU CH
SUBJECT: Guangdong's AI Strategy: Raising Awareness and
Strengthening Communication
REF: A. Guangzhou 1048; B. Hong Kong 2443; C. Guangzhou 1070; D.
Guangzhou 1075; E. Guangzhou 1279; F. Beijing 7401; Beijing 7567
1. (U) Summary: At the end of 2007, Guangdong provincial authorities
announced a new AI prevention plan to increase public awareness,
test response strategies, and ensure regional communication and
cooperation. Also of some interest is the province's new emergency
awareness website (www.gdemo.gov.cn), which will quickly disseminate
information regarding public emergencies, and is designed to help
curb the spread of misinformation. End summary.
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'Beefing Up' the Prevention Strategy
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2. (U) In the wake of two reported cases of avian influenza in
Jiangsu province (ref. F), and the possibility of AI outbreaks this
winter and spring, Guangdong authorities are focusing heavily on
'readiness' levels as part of their AI prevention plan. Guangdong
authorities held an informal press conference in late 2007 to update
local Consulates on the AI situation. The official statement
outlined a five-fold prevention strategy:
-- all principal leaders in the provincial, municipal, and district
governments will play a role in their respective AI emergency
response teams; they will be assessed by their direct supervisors on
their participation and job performance;
-- a stockpile of at least 50 million doses of AI vaccines and 300
tons of disinfectant will be maintained for routine and emergency
use;
-- Guangdong province will enforce a compulsory vaccination program;
AI vaccines will only be purchased from Ministry of
Agriculture-approved manufacturers and used according to government
vaccination guidelines;
-- AI surveillance will be increased; and -- there will be an
increased focus on emergency awareness via lectures, training, and
media publicity.
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Strengthening Emergency Notification
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3. (SBU) On December 18, the Guangdong provincial government
launched an emergency awareness website (www.gdemo.gov.cn). The
website, managed by the provincial government's Emergency Management
Office, will quickly disseminate information regarding public
emergencies, and is designed to help curb the spread of
misinformation. The site covers public health crises such as AI, as
well as other emergencies including natural disaster, major
accidents, and crime. The website uses a disaster alert coloring
system rating incidents from blue (normal) to red (very high). In
addition, HE Jianfeng, of Guangdong's Center for Disease Control
(CDC), told us that 112,000 printed brochures were distributed
promoting AI education.
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Heightened Communication and Collaboration
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4. (SBU) According to LIN Jinyan, Deputy Director General of the
Guangdong CDC, his organization publishes and distributes a
bi-weekly internal newsletter regarding infectious disease outbreaks
to all levels of the Guangdong Department of Health and to other
provincial CDCs, as well as to health authorities in Hong Kong and
Macao.
5. (U) Guangdong CDC has strengthened its disease surveillance and
prevention program by forming a collaborative relationship with the
World Health Organization (WHO) for surveillance, research, and
GUANGZHOU 00000043 002 OF 002
training of emerging infectious diseases including influenza. This
first ever WHO collaboration center in China aims to develop and
implement training programs for Guangdong and provinces in the
south.
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Practice Makes Perfect
----------------------
6. (SBU) On December 11, Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang
Autonomous Region held a joint AI emergency drill, following reports
of two human AI cases in Jiangsu Province (ref. F). Performed under
the auspices of the provincial Department's of Health, the exercise
specifically targeted response readiness and cross-provincial
cooperation and communication. The exercise scenario, in which two
family members in Guangdong Province were "infected" with avian
influenza, and were in close contact with family members in Guangxi,
nearly mirrored the Jiangsu incident reported earlier in the month.
According to WU Yueqi, Director of Guangdong's Department of Health
Emergency Response Office, post-exercise evaluations showed good
cooperation between the two jurisdictions, an important factor in
the AI prevention program.
GOLDBERG