AVIAN INFLUENZA - DAS MARCIEL MEETS WITH KOMNAS SECRETARY

UNCLAS JAKARTA 002396 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG AND OES USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/WSTEIGER/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AMED CASC EAGR AMGT PGOV ID SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA - DAS MARCIEL MEETS WITH KOMNAS SECRETARY KRISNAMURTHI 1.(SBU) National Committee on Avian Influenza Management and Pandemic Alert (KOMNAS) Secretary Bayu Krisnamurthi praised USG contributions towards avian influenza control during an August 28 meeting with EAP Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Scot Marciel. Bayu singled out for praise NAMRU-2's, CDC's and USAID's early contributions when NAMRU first identified human cases of avian influenza in 2005. ¶2. (SBU) Marciel impressed upon Bayu USG avian influenza virus sample sharing concerns, stressing Washington's concerns about the serious risks associated with not sharing samples. He applauded the Ministry of Health's recent sharing of Bali samples with the Centers for Disease Control and emphasized the need for resuming full sample sharing rapidly. When asked for his thoughts on resolving the sample sharing impasse, Bayu responded that he thought a solution was already underway in the "WHO pipeline" but that any solution would need to address economic aspects including shared vaccine development for Indonesia. Bayu also mentioned that he had heard that Minister of Health Fadilah Supari might accompany President Yudhoyono to the US at the end of September. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: Bayu's reference to the Minister's visit is the first time we have heard of her possible travel plans. Our crosscheck with the MOH protocol office corroborated that the Minister of Health planned to travel to the US for September 19-25. The protocol office could not confirm whether she will accompany President Yudhoyono to New York but the dates coincide. We are checking with other MOH contacts to learn more about this planned travel. Hume