Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA39
2006-01-08 12:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

BAHRAIN: AVIAN INFLUENZA CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND

Tags:  AMGT ASEC CASC AMED KFLO AEMR TBIO BA ECTRD 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MANAMA 000039 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

S/ES-O/CMS - OFFICE OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT ASEC CASC AMED KFLO AEMR TBIO BA ECTRD
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: AVIAN INFLUENZA CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND
TRIPWIRES

REF: A. MANAMA 1874

B. STATE 219189

Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly. Not
for Internet distribution.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MANAMA 000039

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

S/ES-O/CMS - OFFICE OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT ASEC CASC AMED KFLO AEMR TBIO BA ECTRD
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: AVIAN INFLUENZA CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND
TRIPWIRES

REF: A. MANAMA 1874

B. STATE 219189

Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly. Not
for Internet distribution.


1. (U) Post has taken a number of measures in anticipation of
the potential threat posed by Avian Influenza (AI). Post MED
has held Mission briefings to help Embassy staff better
understand AI and AI personal risk mitigation strategies.
Post has contracted an LES to continually disinfect commonly
handled items, such as doorknobs and elevator buttons. Post
Management has completed an inventory of critical medical
items, including N-95 respiration masks and placed orders to
fill any deficiencies. Post has established and convened an
Avian Influenza Working Group (AIWG) to compile the following
tripwires for recommendation to the EAC. The AIWG, chaired
by EconOff, includes representation from Management
(including MED),Public Affairs, Consular, Pol/Mil, and the
Defense Attache. Post is served by a Regional Medical
Officer based in Riyadh and employs two LES nurses who
alternate duty to fill one FTE. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy
Fifth Fleet and the Defense Attache has reviewed the NAVCENT
Pandemic Influenza Plan in order to assist the AIWG in
coordinating Post's tripwires with the NAVCENT plan,
particularly with regard to medical and departure
transportation assistance.


2. (SBU) The AIWG assesses that Bahrain is well situated to
implement many precautionary aspects of its AI national
strategy at a pre-pandemic stage (Ref. A). Although
Bahrain's draft strategy has yet to be approved, several key
elements have already been implemented. The Ministry of
Health has adopted an Integrated Capacity Development Program
for laboratory specialists with direction from the WHO. It
has also recently acquired laboratory equipment allowing
local subtyping. However, MED Emboff, who has worked in
Manama for many years as a health practitioner, evaluates
that the GOB real world ability to detect new influenza
strains is limited. Emboff cautions that in the past,

limitations of personnel, expertise and technology have
limited the Ministry of Health's ability to implement plans
as laid out on paper. Emboff observes that one important
medical facility, the Salmaniya Hospital complex, is already
straining to meet current demand, with insufficient beds or
staff to meet daily needs. However, local private hospitals
currently have excess capacity and could absorb some
increased activity. Post will enter draft tripwires into the
Tripwire Reporting and Integrated Planning System (TRIPS) as
directed per Ref. B, subject to EAC approval. Designated
tripwire reporters are Management OMS Tracy Chandonnet
(e-mail: ChandonnetTL@state.gov, phone: 971-1724-2968) and
EconOff Stephen Simpson (e-mail: SimpsonSC@state.gov, phone:
971-1724-2986).



3. (SBU)

--------------
TRIPWIRES
--------------

TRIPWIRE 1: SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI)
TRANSMITTED TO BIRDS OR OTHER ANIMALS IN BAHRAIN OR GULF
REGION

- MGT will provide the mission community with facts on local
outbreak, provide guidelines on proper handling of foodstuffs
and advise staff of food and medical items to stock in home
in case of outbreak (Same message to Amcit community).

- MGT will ensure that all staff are educated on the proper
disposal procedures of dead animals.

- MGT will also collect home email addresses for all
employees and send a Management Notice to all staff to
sign-up for warden messages via email.

- PAO, in coordination with Ministry of Information
officials, will consider any press procedures deemed
necessary at that time to inform the public.

- CON will provide community with facts on local outbreak,
guidelines on proper handling of foodstuffs, advise of food
and medical items to stock at home in case of an outbreak.

- MED will encourage flu shots for all mission personnel and
American direct hire family members, and will train Embassy
canteen staff on proper food handling.


TRIPWIRE 2: ANY CASE OF AI AMONG HUMANS IN BAHRAIN
OR GULF REGION (ANIMAL TO HUMAN TRANSMISSION)

- MGT will ensure that Post,s Alternate Command Center is
fully prepared and stocked.

- MGT will repeat Management update and warnings outlined in
Tripwire 1.

- MGT will consider requesting additional TDY MED personnel.

- MGT will check all emergency supplies and have enough water
and MREs on hand for a fixed period (TBD) for essential
operations.

- MGT will put up signs in the Embassy about proper hand
washing techniques and coughing etiquette, and will teach
cleaning staff how to disinfect offices and employees how to
keep their workspaces clean.

- MGT will consider cleaning/removing outdoor furnishings in
public areas of the Embassy compound.

- MGT will collect and tally skill bank results to identify
those with medical backgrounds.

- PAO/CON will update internet or other public information.

- CON will repeat and update information about the outbreak
and provide guidelines to the community and establish
coordinating groups with other missions

- MED will train guards, first responders, Marines, LES, and
US community in first aid, home health care, and
temperature-taking.

- EAC will consider limiting staff movements to home, work
and essential shopping only.

- EAC will consider limiting public access to Embassy.

- EAC will consider advising Embassy parents to suspend
sending children to school.


TRIPWIRE 3: SPIKE IN THE NUMBER OF ANIMAL-TO-HUMAN
TRANSMISSION CASES IN BAHRAIN OR GULF REGION INDICATING AN
INCREASE IN THE TRANSMISSIBILITY OF THE VIRUS AND/OR CAUSING
A SERIOUS STRAIN ON LOCAL MEDICAL FACILITIES

- MGT will issue regular updates on AI for the mission
community. Travel to affected areas will be restricted as
appropriate.

- MGT will consider requesting authorized departure of family
members and non-emergency personnel, and administrative leave
for non-essential personnel, and will also consider preparing
travel authorizations for expedited return to home leave
addresses of remaining staff. DAO will evaluate NAVCENT,s
ability to support this effort and coordinate as appropriate.

- CON/PAO will continue to issue Warden Notices (if
appropriate),update the public internet website, and issue
public announcements. Amcits may be advised to adjust travel
plans to minimize exposure.

- CON will inform the Amcit community regarding the best
available local medical resources.

- DAO will liaise with NAVCENT efforts.

- MED will communicate with local hospitals and clinics on
their findings in possible AI cases.

- MED will also make available hand-washing supplies and
tissues to Embassy staff, and review drugs stocks and other
medical supplies.


TRIPWIRE 4: SUSTAINED HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION IN GULF
REGION OR MORE THAN ONE COUNTRY, BUT NOT IN BAHRAIN

- MGT will repeat all notifications to mission community, and
consider requesting authorized departure of family members
and non-emergency personnel.

- MGT will consider administrative leave for non-essential
personnel.

- MGT will consider mandatory administrative leave for any
employee who exhibits any flu symptoms or has a family member
with flu symptoms (monitored by the Med Unit); employees with
flu-like signs will be sent home. At this point, Post will
consider setting up screening measures at points of entry,
and will consider restricting TDY personnel coming to Bahrain.

- MGT will consider distributing Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) to appropriate staff in the Health Unit and
other staff who interact with the public.

- CON will continue to provide all services to Americans and
update public announcements if needed, and will provide
non-immigrant visa services only for persons traveling with
Americans returning to the US and for official GOB travel.

- CON will continue to process all pending immigrant visa
cases with existing appointments but will make no new
appointments.

- CON will continue to coordinate with other diplomatic
missions, Med/Washington, and desk officers, and will
consider requesting that the Department issue a travel
warning.

- CON will consider shelter-in-place and quarantine planning,
if appropriate.

- CON will consider limiting visa services and will consider
requesting authorization to suspend visa services. PAO will
support any subsequent decision to do so with appropriate
public service announcements.

- MED will concurrently prepare guidance for family members
on how to treat AI patients at home.

- MED will train guards, first responders, Marines, LES and
US community on the use of PPE and masks. Med will also send
weekly status reports to Department.

- MED will bifurcate in an effort to minimize MED personnel
exposure to AI. One nurse/team will be dedicated to making
house calls on potentially infected Embassy staff (A
motorpool driver will be assigned to the Health Unit). The
other nurse/team will be dedicated exclusively to treating
staff at the Embassy.


TRIPWIRE 5: SUSTAINED HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION IN BAHRAIN

- MGT will continue to implement screening at Embassy entry
points, consider restricting TDY personnel, and continue to
inform the mission community of new developments.

- MGT will consider providing delivery service for groceries
and other essentials to residences.

- CON will continue issuing information notices to the
American community, but will restrict operations to providing
emergency American citizen services.

- CON will also consider requesting a travel warning for
Bahrain.

- MED will maintain a working relationship with local medical
facilities, GOB and U.S. Naval support activity.

- MED will implement mandatory temperature checks and
screening for Embassy staff.

- MED will instruct employees to stay home if they are ill.

- MED will issue advice on home quarantine practices and send
Health Unit personnel to make house calls as needed.


TRIPWIRE 6: MISSION EMPLOYEE DEVELOPS AI

- MGT, in addition to considering all actions outlined above,
will disinfect offices, begin daily contact with staff for
any update on illnesses in staff households, implement
mandatory temperature checks for all personnel, and will
consider a drawdown of staff.

- CON will consider all actions outlined above.

- MED will provide psychological support to employees, and if
possible, continue home visits to sick individual(s) and
evaluate further treatment options including admission to an
ICU medical facility, or medevac.

- MED will continue appropriate actions outlined above.
ZIADEH