KUWAIT AVIAN FLU WORKING GROUP UPDATES TRIPWIRES

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000536 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS STATE FOR AIAG, NEA/ARP, NEA/RA; CAIRO FOR LINDA LOGAN AMMAN FOR WHITTLESEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMED CASC KSCA SENV TBIO KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT AVIAN FLU WORKING GROUP UPDATES TRIPWIRES Ref: Kuwait 536 and previous ¶1. (SBU) On April 14, Kuwait's in-house Avian Influenza (AI) Working Group met to review the mission's AI-specific tripwires in light of the recent outbreak. Present at the meeting were representatives from the Economic (ESTHoff),Consular, Management sections, as well as the A/DCM. The AIWG made some minor modifications to the tripwires, including updating the appropriate contacts at MED and adding a consideration for town hall meetings with Embassy wardens in the event of a human case in Kuwait. The Embassy will update its medical skills bank inventory among personnel and develop home email contact information for all staff to expand its communication networks. ¶2. (SBU) With no new AI cases among poultry confirmed in nearly two weeks, and with the weather warming up, Post believes the current outbreak in Kuwait is dissipating, but we will continue to monitor the situation. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ *********************************************