Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TALLINN907
2006-10-05 11:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tallinn
Cable title:  

PANDORA 2006: MOCK BIRD FLU PANDEMIC RESPONSE EXERCISE

Tags:  SENV SOCI EAGR PGOV EN 
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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTL #0907 2781142
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051142Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9090
UNCLAS TALLINN 000907 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV SOCI EAGR PGOV EN
SUBJECT: PANDORA 2006: MOCK BIRD FLU PANDEMIC RESPONSE EXERCISE


UNCLAS TALLINN 000907

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV SOCI EAGR PGOV EN
SUBJECT: PANDORA 2006: MOCK BIRD FLU PANDEMIC RESPONSE EXERCISE



1. (U) Summary: GOE is in the process of wrapping up
PANDORA 2006, a multi-stage program created to test how
Estonia's crisis management systems would respond to a bird
flu pandemic. The program is being used as a learning tool
to highlight some of the GOE's crisis management strengths
and weaknesses. End Summary.


2. (U) On October 3 poleconoffs and conoff, along with
approximately 60 Estonian and international observers,
attended a portion of the Estonian Ministry of the
Interior's (MOI) national civil protection exercise PANDORA
2006, which was designed to test Estonia's ability to
respond to a bird flu pandemic. The exercise was fully
planned and financed by the GOE at a cost of 34,000 Euros.
The morning portion of the observer program took place at
Tallinn International Airport and involved a scenario in
which an arriving plane carried several passengers
exhibiting flu-like symptoms. During an afternoon session,
PANDORA 2006 organizer Kevin Probert-Ehaver gave a
presentation discussing the structure and planning of the
exercise.


3. (U) Under Estonia's Emergency Preparedness Law of 2000,
a national crisis management exercise must be organized by
the MOI at least once every four years. The last exercise,
held in 2002, focused on natural and industrial disasters.
PANDORA 2006 was comprised of a series of four thematically
interrelated flu outbreak exercises held over the course of
several days. Part one, held in February in conjunction
with the Ministry of Agriculture, was designed to test
Estonia's response to a mock domestic poultry-based flu
outbreak. In October, the second part of the exercise
involved the Ministry of Justice in a mock outbreak of a
human strain of the flu at a Tallinn prison. Part three,
the observer portion of the program, involved the Ministry
of Social Affairs and Tallinn International Airport. Part
four was a hospital-based Tallinn-wide pandemic scenario.
These practical exercises will be followed by a multi-
agency government cabinet meeting, an evaluation
conference, and finally a wrap-up session on November 1.


4. (U) In an effort to more accurately simulate a real
life situation, the airport observer exercise was not
announced to emergency personnel in advance. The exercise
was executed as planned, with some minor glitches. For
example, ambulances and medical staff in protective gear
arrived to the scene approximately 40 minutes after being
notified; the exercise schedule anticipated a 10 minute
response time. During the afternoon discussion session,
Probert-Ehaver noted that problem areas were being
identified and worked out during each of the exercise
scenarios. A British observer inquired as to whether the
Ministry of Social Affairs has the leadership capability to
handle a bird flu outbreak, as Britian's equivalent
ministry proved itself unprepared to lead during their foot
and mouth epidemic. Probert-Ehaver explained that in a
real life crisis, the nature of the emergency would
determine which ministry would take the lead. For a health
problem such as a human outbreak of bird flu, the Ministry
of Social Affairs would be primarily responsible because it
controls the funding for health-related crises. However,
the MOI and/or the Ministry of Defense would be responsible
for coordinating plans. (Note: the MOI's crisis management
section is made up of only four people. End note)
Probert-Ehaver stated that these and other issues will be
further discussed during the wrap up portion of PANDORA
2006, as well as in ongoing cross-ministry crisis
management meetings.


5. (SBU) Comment. While there are problems to be worked
out in Estonia's crisis management response system, it is
encouraging to see Estonia taking the lead on crisis
planning and not relying solely on friendly countries for
assistance, as was the case of the oil spills last spring
when Estonia found itself unprepared and dependent on
Finland for emergency clean up. In a situation like a bird

flu epidemic, it is vital that Estonia be prepared to step
up and control an outbreak internally as other countries
may be dealing with their own outbreaks. PANDORA 2006
demonstrates that GOE is aware of this reality and is
taking preparatory steps in the right direction. End
Comment.

GOLDSTEIN