UK HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY PROPOSES FORMAL

UNCLAS LONDON 003657 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS CDC FOR DIRECTOR GERBERDING CDC FOR CHARLES MILLER AND ROBERT WHITCOMB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC PREL UK SUBJECT: UK HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY PROPOSES FORMAL LIAISON WITH U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION REF: LONDON 1534 (AND PREVIOUS) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) Chief Advisor to the Chief Executive Dr. Nigel Lightfoot proposed to visiting U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials and EmbOffs that a formal liaison be established between HPA and CDC. During discussions of lessons learned in response to the November 2006 polonium-210 incident (reftel),Lightfoot also recommended 1) CDC peer review HPA's "unknown illness" patient diagnosis protocol, 2) the G7 consider ways to communicate more effectively during a public health crisis, and 3) practice using the CDC-HPA communication process during the October TopOff 4 exercise. END SUMMARY ¶2. (SBU) On September 14, CDC officials Dr. Charles Miller and Dr. Robert Whitcomb, accompanied by EmbOffs, met with HPA officials Dr. Nigel Lightfoot, John Cooper and Neil McColl, to discuss additional lessons learned from the November 2006 polonium-210 poisoning in London of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko (reftel). Based on the polonium experience, Lightfoot strongly recommended that a formal liaison be established between CDC and HPA that would plan and facilitate peer-to-peer communication during a public health emergency. Lightfoot suggested a personnel exchange, a formal communications process, and/or a memorandum of understanding be established to assist in any future incidents. HPA Chief Executive Pat Troop reiterated this request to ESTOff during a event at the annual Health Protection 2007 conference. Troop said she believes the time is ripe for a more formal relationship with CDC. ¶3. (SBU) One of the lessons identified from the polonium incident, explained HPA officials, was informing public health officials how to manage and report a patient experiencing an unknown illness. In response, HPA developed an "unknown illness" document to assist public health officials in identifying the underlying problem. Lightfoot encouraged CDC to use and to comment on the document. ¶4. (SBU) Given that over 50 nations had citizens who may have come into contact with polonium-210, a major lesson identified was how to communicate effectively with other countries. There are links between HPA and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to share information with third-country embassies represented in London. In addition, the FCO is working with Embassies to implement a password-protected internet application, dubbed Hermes, that would provide information during a mass casualty crisis. Lightfoot recommended that further discussion was needed throughout the international community to address how to communicate in the event of a crisis. Lightfoot recommended that the most appropriate forum would be the G7. ¶5. (SBU) CDC and HPA officials are participating in the October TopOff 4 exercise, and committed to practice newly established communication links. On September 14, CDC and HPA exchanged phone numbers for 24/7 public health duty officers to facilitate communication in the event of a crisis. ¶6. (U) This cable has been cleared by CDC. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm LeBaron