AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 005187

SIPDIS

FOR OES/IHA-D.SINGER AND R.DALEY AND WHA/CAR-D.SEARBY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO SENV DR ECON EAGR EAID PREL
SUBJECT: AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
INFORMATION

REF: STATE 209622


1. Embassy's answers to country-specific questions about
avian and pandemic influenza (AI) follow and are keyed to the
subheads and ticks in para 4 reftel:


A. Preparedness/communication:

-- The country does not yet have a plan orstrategy for
preventing avian influenza from becoming a pandemic or for
containing a pandemic once it occurs. At a press conference
on October 25 the Dominican government declared its
commitment to address AI issues, and itis reactivating a
working group for emerging and re-emerging diseases which met
November 2. This group will be led by Secretary of State for
Public Health Dr. Bautista Rojas Gomez and chaired by him or
by Under Secretary for Collective Health Dr. Rafael
Schiffino. It will include all important stakeholders,
including government entities, donors, NGOs, and the private
sector. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and USAID
are the lead donor agencies for now. The Secretariat of
Health's epidemiology department will take the lead to
prepare a draft plan, with technical assistance from PAHO,
which will then be shared widely. The government has
announced that it will base its country response on
international guidelines.

-- The Dominican Government has stated that it will provide
accurate information within its capabilities. Authorities
distributed an information packet at the October 25 press
conference. The Dominican Republic's free and aggressive
press is likely to seek updated information.

-- Senior public health policymakers are aware of the AI
situation and state that they are committed to working with
Dominican society and donors on this issue. The "go to"
persons for U.S. Government officials to engage include:

Secretary of State for Public Health Dr. Bautista Rojas

SIPDIS
Gomez,
Under Secretary for Collective Health Dr. Rafael Schiffino,
and
Dr. Elizabeth Gomez, director of the National Epidemiology
Directorate and chairperson of the AI technical working
group.

-- National laws have not been specfically reviewed with
regard to consistency with international health regulations.
Embassy considersthat the laws would probably not pose any
barrier to AI detection, reporting, containment, or response.

-- USAID and PAHO have already offered technical assistance
to the authorities. The United States can approach the
government bilaterally and in multilateral fora.

-- The Dominican Republic does not have a capability to
administer annual flu shots, unless it were to receive
assistance or shift budget priorities. The country does not
produce flu vaccine.

-- As previously noted, the government has held a press
conference on AI, and news articles have appeared in several
nationally distributed dailies. To achieve broad coverage of
the population, local television and radio stations would
need to devote more attention to the issue.


B. Surveillance/detection:

-- With technical assistance, Dominican medical and
agricultural sectors are capable of clinically detecting new
flu strains and diagnosing cases. Embassy doubts that
influenza viruses could be subtyped in country; the
authorities would normally send such viruses to the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for analysis.

-- The greatest gap in the country's disease detection and
outbreak response capability is financing for supplies,
equipment, and public education campaigns. As of now, there
is no budget assigned specifically to AI-related activities,
and no donor has offered monetary or in-kind assistance.


C. Response/containment:

-- So far no medications have been stockpiled, nor have any
been ordered. The issue of stockpiling will be considered in
the national response plan to be developed by the working
group. The National Medicine Support Center (PROMESECAL)
should play a key role on this matter.

-- There is no pre-positioned personal protective gear. This
issue will be addressed in the national plan.

-- The authorities are evaluating the rapid response capacity
for human and animal outbreaks, but guidelines are not yet in
place.

-- Embassy believes that the government would be willing to
impose quarantines or social distancing measures if necessary
and would use the police or military, as appropriate.
However, we cannot predict the effectiveness of such measures
outside the major cities.
KUBISKE