HEALTH MINISTER ON REGIONAL FORUM, AVIAN FLU, AND

UNCLAS PANAMA 000913 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR G - J. MELINE ALSO FOR AIAG - R. DALEY ALSO FOR IO/T HHS FOR A/S SIMONSON AND FOR OGHA - STEIGER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KFLU SENV PM SUBJECT: HEALTH MINISTER ON REGIONAL FORUM, AVIAN FLU, AND SMALLPOX REF: (A) STATE 69310 (B) STATE 71569 This message is Senstive But Unclassified. Please Handle Accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Health Minister Camilo Alleyne anticipates HHS Secretary Leavitt's participation at a regional forum of health ministers the GOP plans to host in early June, with a focus on pandemic flu issues. He is willing to attend the June 6-7 IPAPI meeting in Vienna. Alleyne believes that HHS work with the Gorgas Institute on AI is "going well." The GOP will support the U.S. on smallpox issues at the upcoming World Health Assembly in Geneva. End summary. GOP Plans Regional Forum in June; Interested in IPAPI -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Panamanian Health Minister Camilo Alleyne told Ambassador on May 11 of the GOP's planned June 7-9 regional forum of health ministers, with a focus on pandemic influenza issues. Alleyne anticipates HHS Secretary Leavitt's participation and also plans to invite Under Secretary Dobriansky, the CDC Director, and other top U.S. health officials. He also plans to invite health ministers from Central America, the Caribbean (except Cuba),and several South Americans, including Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Alleyne also envisions participation of private sector groups and health care providers. He said the GOP hopes ministers would sign a "declaration on avian influenza," but does not propose producing any specific agreements. ¶3. (U) Ambassador noted Post's understanding from HHS that Secretary Leavitt planned to attend, but pointed out a SIPDIS potential scheduling issue with the June 6-7 senior officials meeting in Vienna of the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza (IPAPI). Alleyne said, if necessary, he still has time to revise the conference dates to avoid a conflict and said that he would be in touch directly with HHS to ensure the schedules match up. He added that he is willing to attend the IPAPI meeting and allowed as how it could also provide a useful platform to promote the regional meeting. HHS - Gorgas Institute Collaboration "Going Well" -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) Drawing on ref A, Ambassador stressed USG efforts to address the threat of avian influenza (AI) and our commitment to strengthening international partnerships on AI. Alleyne reiterated the GOP's appreciation for HHS' $1.5 million agreement to bolster the Gorgas Institute's laboratory capacity for AI surveillance and detection. He believes the effort is "going well," as CDC experts have already helped Gorgas with the design of their new laboratory. GOP Supports U.S. on WHA Smallpox Issue -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Ambassador also raised USG concerns about the World Health Assembly's upcoming consideration of a resolution on eradicating variola virus stocks (ref B). Alleyne said he had heard similar concerns during his visit to Washington in April and said that Panama would support the U.S. at the WHA meeting. He said he already has the "technical substantiation" for the GOP's position and that he stands ready to intervene from the floor on this issue, if necessary, at the WHA. (Comment: USdel to the WHA meeting may need to engage directly with the GOP's WHA delegation to ensure their vocal support. End comment.) EATON