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
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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"
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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
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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