[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 30, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16290-16291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6244]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Development of Influenza Surveillance Network in Vietnam; Notice 
of Intent To Fund Single Eligibility Award

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
intent to fund fiscal year (FY) 2005 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program to provide support and assistance to the government of Vietnam, 
specifically the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for the 
development and improvement of the influenza surveillance network in 
Vietnam. This network will focus on the systematic collection of 
virological and epidemiological information for influenza. The Catalog 
of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program is 93.283.

[[Page 16291]]

B. Eligible Applicant

    Assistance will be provided only to the Vietnam National Institute 
of Hygiene and Epidemiology through their Ministry of Health. Vietnam 
is being targeted for this cooperative agreement due to the recent 
outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza cases in humans and 
animals. The newly arising cases in humans are cause for great concern 
due to the potential of an influenza pandemic capable of causing 
millions of deaths. Since mid-December 2004, the Ministry of Health in 
Vietnam has confirmed 24 cases of human infection with H5N1 avian 
influenza. Of the 24 confirmed cases, 13 have resulted in fatalities. 
For the entire year of 2004, Vietnam had 28 human cases of H5N1 and 20 
fatalities. Additionally, it appears that there are a growing number of 
possible family clusters suggesting the ability of the virus to spread 
through human to human contact. In response to these recent events in 
Vietnam, the Department of Health and Human Services requested that the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention create a cooperative 
agreement with Vietnam to enhance surveillance to address the current 
influenza situation as soon as possible. National Institute of Hygiene 
and Epidemiology (NIHE) has been chosen to conduct the surveillance for 
avian influenza because it serves as the National Influenza Center 
designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of 
Health. As such, information collected by NIHE is reported directly 
into WHO's Global Influenza Surveillance System where it benefits 
countries globally.

C. Funding

    Approximately $500,000 is available in FY 2005 to fund this award. 
It is expected that the award will begin on or before April 29, 2005 
and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period 
of up to 5 years. Funding estimates may change.

D. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    For general comments or questions about this announcement, contact: 
Technical Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 
2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For technical questions about this program, contact: Ann Moen, 
Project Officer, CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Mailstop 
G-16, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-639-
4652, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: March 24, 2005.
William P. Nichols,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-6244 Filed 3-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P