

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05WELLINGTON908, NEW ZEALAND'S AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05WELLINGTON908.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05WELLINGTON908 | 2005-11-25 03:34 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Wellington |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 WELLINGTON 000908
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/DR. DANIEL SINGER AND
REBECCA S. DALEY, INR FOR LESTER AND BRUNETTE-CHEN,
STATE FOR D (FRITZ), EAP/FO (STEPHENS),
AND EAP/ANP
NSC FOR VICTOR CHA
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA ELIZABETH PHU
NSC FOR VICTOR CHA
PACOM FOR J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2015
TAGS: TBIO SENV ECON EAGR EAID PREL NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND'S AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA
PLANNING UPDATE
REF: A. SECSTATE 206992
¶B. WELLINGTON 704
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Katherine Hadda,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
¶1. (C) Summary: Since launching a government-wide effort in
June, the GNZ has vigorously planned for the possibility of
avian and pandemic influenza entering New Zealand. Under
the coordination of the Ministry of Health (MOH), the
Inter-sectoral Pandemic Group (IPG) of thirteen ministries
and departments in November released publicly a
comprehensive Influenza Pandemic Action Plan. In
developing its national plan, the GNZ has consulted closely
with Australia and WHO officials, and has sought to shore
up its inability to produce human vaccines by securing an
agreement with an Australia-based manufacture to provide
priority access to a vaccine once it is developed.
¶2. (C) Beyond the vaccine weakness, New Zealand is
well-positioned
to execute its national strategy having mature animal and
human
surveillance programs, well-implemented vaccination
administration programs, and having reviewed its legal
authorities to implement quarantine and other social
distancing measures. In October 2005, Prime Minister Helen
Clark appointed veteran minister and scientist Pete Hodgson
as Minister of Health, further signifying the high
importance of pandemic influenza and other health issues to
the GNZ. Embassy will provide a further update to this message
following consultations with GNZ expert Marlene Castle next
week.
Castle was unavailable prior to the Ref A requested response
deadline.
End Summary.
Preparedness/Communication
---------------------------
¶2. (C) NATIONAL PLAN: The government of New Zealand in June
initiated development of a comprehensive national plan to
respond to avian and pandemic influenza, and released the
plan publicly in early November. New Zealand is
well-positioned to implement its national strategy. New
Zealand's area of greatest weakness is that it does not
have local capacity to manufacture human vaccines. The
principal
national planning document is available through the Ministry
of
Health at http://www.moh.govt.nz/nhep. The plan is expected
to
undergo continuing revision as a "living document," and is
currently on its 14th version. Further planning documentation
regarding animals is available through Biosecurity New
Zealand at
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz.
¶3. (C) RELIABLE REPORTING: There is no reason to doubt the
government's truthfulness in reporting the scope of any
disease outbreak among people or animals. New Zealand has
a mature public health surveillance system, including two
programs specifically dedicated to monitoring influenza:
(1) a general practice (GP) sentinel disease and
virological surveillance system operates annually during
the winter months recording the daily number of
consultations that fit the case definition of an
influenza-like illness and (2) an ongoing virological
surveillance is carried out by designated virology
diagnostic laboratories, and by the ESR virology
laboratory. Data collected from these laboratories is
reported nationally in the Virology Weekly Report.
¶4. (U) Biosecurity New Zealand, within the Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry's (MAF), manages the Animal
Disease Surveillance program, including regular reporting of
surveillance results and auditing of services purchased
from contractors. In the last two years, almost 2,000
samples were collected from migratory waterfowl in the
vicinity of arrival locations. No bird flu or highly
pathogenic avian influenza viruses were isolated from any
of these samples, or from the less intensive sampling that
was conducted in previous years. Fifteen avian influenza
viruses have been isolated and characterized in New Zealand
over the past 15 years. All were non-pathogenic.
¶5. (C) Presently, public health surveillance reports for
reportable diseases in humans are published on a weekly
cycle. Reports for disease in animals are reported on a
quarterly cycle. Greater frequency of reporting of disease
among animals would contribute to greater transparency by
providing more timely and thus more relevant information.
New Zealand's national plan provides for increased animal
surveillance once the pandemic enters WHO Interpandemic
Period Phase 2.
¶6. (C) PRIORITY TO GOVERNMENT: Preparing for an avian flu
pandemic ranks highly among government priorities. Staff
from the External Assessments Bureau (EAB) located within
the Department of the Prime Minister
and Cabinet, have been assigned to avian influenza threat
planning. The Director, David Kersey, has been seconded to
the Officials Committee for Domestic and External Security
(ODESC) for this purpose, and currently spends only 10% of
his time at EAB. The Ministry of Health (MoH), the agency
leading intergovernmental coordination and planning through
the Intersectoral Pandemic Group (IPG), has taken a
"maximum credible event" approach to planning for avian
influenza pandemic. Under this approach MoH models assume
a pandemic wave in which 40% of the NZ population will
become ill over an eight-week period with a 2% fatality
rate (33,000 deaths in the eight-week period).
¶7. (C) It is difficult to conceive of the government
placing higher priority on the issue. In October, Prime
Minister Helen Clark appointed Pete Hodgson as Minister of
Health. As the only scientist among the
Labour-government's members, Hodgson is well-regarded for
his management capability and subject-matter expertise.
During the last term of government, Hodgson had ministerial
responsibility for energy, fisheries, research &
technology, and the Crown Research Institutes, and was the
government's resident expert on climate change.
¶8. (C) KEY CONTACT: The Embassy's principal liaison with the
government of New Zealand on avian flu issues is Marlene
Castle,
External Assessments Bureau (EAB). EAB is located in the
Prime
Minister's office and is responsible for monitoring and
analyzing world events for the PM and Cabinet officials.
Castle is a chemical and biological weapons expert and has
been following the avian flu epidemic for the last two
years. She is also heavily involved in GNZ's contingency
planning should a pandemic strike here, and regularly
briefs the Prime Minister on the disease's trajectory.
¶9. (U) REVIEW OF LAWS: As part of the Influenza Pandemic
Action Plan, the GNZ is assessing the legal authorities
applicable to its planned actions in response to each of
the WHO-designated pandemic phases. Much of the specific
legal authority it cited within the plan, and will be
updated during subsequent plan versions.
¶10. (C) MULTILATERAL COOPERATION: New Zealand is working
closely with the World Health Organization and the
government of Australia. Castle indicates that GNZ
officials have nearly "constant touch" with WHO and
Australian officials. The government has recognized that
New Zealand does not have the capacity to manufacture human
vaccines, and has thus secured an agreement with an
Australia-based manufacturer to get priority access to
vaccines in the event of a future influenza pandemic.
During an actual pandemic, particularly if the agreed
supplier is incapable of supplying a vaccine, the
government may seek assistance from Australia, the US or
other countries for vaccine assistance.
¶11. (U) ANNUAL FLU VACCINES: New Zealand has a mature
program for administering annual influenza vaccines, but
does not have the local capacity to manufacture human
vaccines. Instead annual influenza vaccines are purchased
from vendors in Australia, who formulate the vaccine with
input from the governments of Australia, New Zealand, and
South Africa and the World Health Organization. The
vaccines are formulated for the Southern hemisphere winter
and the flu season from April to September.
¶12. (C) PUBLIC INFORMATION: The planning group has begun
to implement a public education campaign, including
significant
information now available on the Ministry of Health website
cited paragraph 1 of this cable. Other ministries
and departments have begun publishing information on websites
including Biosecurity New Zealand and the Ministry for
Economic
Development. Other steps are being considered, including
pamphlets. Information on whom to contact in case of a
pandemic
are now included in a prominent place in New Zealand phone
directories. The aim of GNZ's outreach efforts is to educate
without inducing panic. Local media has provided frequent
coverage of avian influenza both globally and locally, and
even in rural areas the public is well-informed although
probably poorly prepared with provisional supplies and coping
strategies.
Surveillance/Detection
----------------------
¶13. (C) CAPABILITY TO DETECT AND SUBTYPE: New Zealand
surveillance systems can effectively isolate and detect new
strains of influenza both among people and animals, and New
Zealand should be able to properly diagnose cases in short
order. There is a relatively low level of endemic disease
among animal species. Influenza viruses can be subtyped in
country, principally by the government owned entity
Institute for Environmental Science and Research Limited,
as demonstrated during the 2004 flu season. During 2004,
an influenza A substrain was first isolated in New Zealand;
the virus was later determined to have originated in
Southern China. The strain will be formulated into the
2005 seasonal flu vaccine.
¶14. (C) CRITICAL GAPS: New Zealand's greatest weakness
appears to be its local inability to manufacture human
vaccines.
Response/Containment
--------------------
¶15. (C) STOCKPILES: The Government of New Zealand has
acquired 855,000 doses of the antiviral oseltamivir
(Tamiflu), sufficient to treat 21% of the population. MOH
has further recognized the need for District Health Boards
(DHBs) to consider the need to build their own supplies of
anti-viral drugs, over above the levels held in the
national stockpile.
¶16. (U) CULLING AND OTHER ANIMAL MEASURES: MAF has
authority under the Biosecurity Act of 1993 to respond to
organism incursions through control or eradication.
Biosecurity New Zealand, a component of MAF, has included
eradication/culling within it planning framework.
¶17. (SBU) QUARANTINE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING: Given the
short-run lack of a vaccine and limited antiviral supplies,
quarantine and social distancing measures are the principal
means considered by the government for a future pandemic
virus that enters New Zealand. These measures include:
recommending that sick people stay home; advising the
public against unnecessary travel; utilizing the powers of
medical officers of health to cancel public events; closing
child care facilities, schools and tertiary education
institutions; removal and detention for individuals
suspected of infection with avian influenza; compulsory
treatment; authority to use other areas as a hospital or
place of isolation; and use of police and defense forces to
isolate infected areas and prevent travel to uninfected
islands.
McCormick