DOD AVIAN FLU BRIEFING TO GOK MILITARY DOCTORS;

UNCLAS KUWAIT 005114 SIPDIS CORRECTED COPY - CAPTION ADDED SENSITIVE SIPDIS 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 -------------- MEDICAL STAFF BRIEFING -------------- ¶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. -------------- STATE-DOD WORKING GROUP MEETS -------------- ¶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. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON