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