UPDATE ON CARACAS AVIAN INFLUENZA CONTINGENCY

UNCLAS CARACAS 000630 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR WHA/EX BOGOTA FOR RMO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC AMED KFLO VE SUBJECT: UPDATE ON CARACAS AVIAN INFLUENZA CONTINGENCY PLANNING REF: 2005 CARACAS 03845 ¶1. (SBU) On January 19, Post Emergency Action Committee (EAC) Avian Influenza (AI) Subcommittee met with the Regional Medical Officer (RMO) to discuss Post preparedness. The Subcommittee then held a follow-up meeting on January 26 to review the preparedness checklist as it pertains to Post operations, and reviewed Center for Disease Control (DCD) and World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic flu literature. Post has also held mission-wide AI briefings throughout the month of January by the RSO and Post Medical Advisor, and has offered additional briefings for family members. The Community Liaison Office has made AI handouts available and has addressed AI in the weekly Embassy newsletter. Post has issued two detailed staff notices with key facts about AI and preparedness measures. Post is also nominating four candidates from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture to attend an Avian Influenza training offered by the Department on April 23. ¶2. (SBU) No cases of AI, nor of course of animal-to-human AI have been reported in Venezuela. BROWNFIELD