DOD AVIAN FLU BRIEFING TO GOK MILITARY DOCTORS;

UNCLAS KUWAIT 005114

SIPDIS
CORRECTED COPY - CAPTION ADDED
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMED CASC KSCA SENV TBIO PREL KU
SUBJECT: DOD AVIAN FLU BRIEFING TO GOK MILITARY DOCTORS;
STATE-DOD WORKING GROUP MEETS AGAIN

REF: KUWAIT 4964


1. (SBU) SUMMARY On December 12, U.S. military medical
personnel briefed Kuwaiti military doctors on Avian Influenza
(AI) and the U.S. military's preparations for a possible
outbreak. Comments and follow-up questions from Kuwaiti
attendees indicate that the briefing was well received. On
December 13, the joint State-DOD working group met to discuss
next steps on engaging the GOK on AI. The group agreed to use
the same briefing material used at the hospital (with changes
as appropriate) in dealings with other GOK entities involved
with AI in order to ensure continuity of the USG's message.
END SUMMARY

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MEDICAL STAFF BRIEFING
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2. (SBU) On December 12, U.S. military doctors and
veterinary specialists from the Combined Forces Land
Component Command (CFLCC) provided a powerpoint briefing on
AI to GOK military physicians and staff nurses at the Kuwait
Armed Forces Hospital. The briefing detailed the
characteristics of the H5N1 virus, potential virus mutation
and/or RNA reassortment scenarios, patient treatment
guidance, and an overview of the USG's plan for a possible AI
outbreak in Kuwait. Attendees asked several follow-up
questions, mainly focused on the effects of freezing and
cooking on the virus, and questions about possible virus
mutation combinations.


3. (SBU) CFLCC, in coordination with the Embassy, organized
the briefing in response to a request that Chief of Staff of
the Kuwaiti Army Lt. Gen. Fahad Al-Amir made to CENTCOM
Commander General Abizaid asking for his medical personnel to
be briefed on AI. As previously agreed to by the interagency
working group (Reftel),the presentation and talking points
were cleared through the Embassy prior to the briefing.

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STATE-DOD WORKING GROUP MEETS
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4. (SBU) On December 13, the joint State-DOD working group
(Reftel) met to discuss the previous day's briefing, and to
discuss the next steps in informing the GOK about the USG's
planning for AI. The group agreed on the importance of
proactively engaging the GOK to ward off any potential
knee-jerk reactions - such as airport or border closures
which would substantially impact IOF operations - on the part
of the GOK, by demonstrating that the USG is planning for AI
and is capable of handling an outbreak. ESTHoff reminded the
group that given the bureaucratic obstacles to
inter-Ministerial cooperation in the GOK, USG personnel
(either from the Embassy or U.S. military, as appropriate)
may need to approach the various interested GOK departments
individually in order to reinforce the message that the USG
(and particularly the U.S. military) has adequate plans in
place; with minor changes, the briefing material used on
December 12 can be presented to each GOK entity in order to
ensure consistency.


5. (SBU) During the meeting, ESTHoff asked a CFLCC
veterinary officer to prepare a briefing aimed at animal
health and veterinary personnel to be available if
information is requested, or if an opportunity presents
itself to use such a briefing proactively. Additionally, a
representative from the Office of Military Cooperation Kuwait
(OMC-K) stated that the CFLCC AI-response planning document,
still being finalized, should be ready within a week and will
be distributed to the group members thereafter. The working
group will meet again on January 3, 2006.

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LEBARON