PARAGUAY ON ADDRESSING THE THREAT OF AVIAN

UNCLAS ASUNCION 001109 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR U/S DOBRIANSKY STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID LAC/AA NSC FOR SUE CRONIN SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO ECON PREL SOCI PA KSTH WHO SUBJECT: PARAGUAY ON ADDRESSING THE THREAT OF AVIAN INFLUENZA REF: STATE 153802 ¶1. (U) On 9/1, the Ambassador emphasized reftel talking points in a meeting with Acting Foreign Minister Emilio Gimenez. ¶2. (SBU) Gimenez advised that the GOP already has established an avian influenza task force to deal with suspected cases of exposure to the disease. (Note: The GOP has not advertised the existence of the task force, in order not to cause unnecessary alarm among the country's population. End Note.) ¶3. (U) Gimenez said he would ask Vice Minister of Livestock Gerardo Bogado to designate a senior-level point of contact to facilitate further consultations on this issue. Post will advise septel as soon as such a point of contact has been identified. KEANE