HMG REQUESTS POLONIUM TESTING FEEDBACK FROM CDC;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 000263 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO CDC DR. CHARLES MILLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL CASC PTER UK SUBJECT: HMG REQUESTS POLONIUM TESTING FEEDBACK FROM CDC; CLAIMS POTENTIAL PRESS ISSUE REF: 06 LONDON 8249 LONDON 00000263 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 6. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The UK Health Protection Agency requests the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide laboratory test results on the U.S. residents potentially exposed to polonium in London. The UK Health Protection Agency desire for the results of these tests is not only for their own analysis, but also to avoid a potential public relations problem if asked by the press if HMG has received any feedback on laboratory test results from the USG. The FCO has also inquired about the test results. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) BACKGROUND: Following the polonium-210 incident in December 2006, the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) and FCO provided post with several lists containing the names of Amcits who were visiting the UK and may have been to areas that were affected by polonium-210 (reftel). CA/OCS/ACS/EUR remains post's primary POC to pass information, specifically the names of Amcits from HMG who may have been in the affected polonium-210 areas. Post understands that CA/OCS/ACS/EUR sent the Amcits names provided by HMG to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Post further understands that the CDC has either contacted the Amcits directly or forwarded the names to the respective state health departments for contacting. On January 5, 2007, HPA Director for Emergency Response, Dr. Nigel Lightfoot, emailed a letter to CDC Dr. Charles Miller 1) providing a summary of HPA efforts to date, 2) inviting CDC to visit for a further update on the HPA risk assessment and follow-up of individuals potentially exposed, and 3) requesting information of how many of the 140 U.S. residents potentially exposed had received follow-up examinations, how many had urine tests, and if the results could be shared with HMG. END BACKGROUND. ¶4. (SBU) On January 17, EST Counselor, ESTOff and MEDOff met with HPA Dr. Lightfoot and his staff to discuss lessons learned in response to the polonium incident (septel). Dr. Lightfoot raised his January 5 request to CDC and explained that of the cases the UK is trying to follow-up with, one-third of the individuals reside in the U.S. Dr. Lightfoot believes the CDC may find it difficult to respond to the request due to legal issues and/or logistical issues of trying to get information back from state health agencies. Dr. Lightfoot claims this, however, raises a potential USG-HMG public relations problem as it is possible that at some point the press will start asking how many people were affected by the polonium-210 incident, what countries were they from, were these individuals contacted, and did the countries whose citizens were potentially affected provide laboratory test results back to HMG. (COMMENT: The British press corps may spin this story in a way that portrays the USG not cooperating with HMG. END COMMENT.) ESTOff explained that due to the U.S. federal-state system, the CDC may be having difficulty receiving feedback from the state health departments. Dr. Lightfoot stated that he foresees a potential problem in which HMG states that it provided names to the USG, but never received laboratory test results in return. Dr. Lightfoot reiterated his offer for CDC, or other appropriate officials, to visit London as soon as possible to discuss this issue further and develop a joint USG-HMG position on what to say publicly regarding the potential for risk to individuals. ¶5. (SBU) On January 10, the FCO's Russia desk asked PolOff if the USG had any information on whether any of the Amcits that were identified by HMG as potentially being at risk had reported any medical issues after notification. The FCO explained that if HMG brings any criminal charges against those responsible, the prosecutors will want to bring the most complete indictments possible, and therefore it would be useful to have any information on Amcits impacted by the incident. The FCO indicated that this was not a formal request at this point, rather just an effort to determine if the USG was keeping any records on those notified, and if we knew if anyone was affected. ¶6. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post request Department encourage CDC to provide as much information as possible back to HMG. Additionally, Post requests the Department encourage CDC, or LONDON 00000263 002.2 OF 002 other appropriate officials, to visit the UK as soon as possible, to meet with HPA officials and discuss a joint strategy on what to say publicly regarding the potential for risk to individuals. Although a meeting in London would be best, another option might be to setup a conference call or video conference. Post stands ready to assist as needed. END ACTION REQUEST. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm Johnson