ITALIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

UNCLAS ROME 000873 SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/IHB - KOWALSKI DEPT FOR IO/T - BLACKWOOD DEPT PLEASE PASS TO DHHS - IHR PROGRAM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AORC PREL WHO IT SUBJECT: ITALIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS REF: STATE 33263 ¶1. Post delivered reftel talking points to Dr. Loredana Vellucci of the Health Ministry (MOH) Directorate for Health Prevention On April ¶2. Vellucci heads Office III, which coordinates the Italian network of Maritime, Air and Border Health Offices (USMAF),as well as prevention activities related to biological, chemical or nuclear terrorism. In her written reply, Dr. Vellucci noted that although the revised World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR) entered into force in Italy in June 2007, the Italian Parliament has yet to pass the required Italian implementing regulations. Italy has not started to develop a national implementation plan, but has nonetheless moved ahead with several key elements of IHR implementation (items a - c below). Dr. Vellucci was interested in - and has received - the U.S. IHR implementation plan. ¶2. According to Dr. Vellucci, Italy already has begun IHR implementation, especially in the area of communication, surveillance and monitoring activities. In particular, a) The GOI has designated her office as the National IHR Focal Point, with responsibility for coordinating communication with WHO headquarters and with the WHO regional offices. Note: Dr. Vellucci stressed that communication between Italy and the WHO proved to be very effective last summer when the Chikungunya virus outbreak occurred, and when the National Focal Point had been designated only two weeks earlier. End note. b) The GOI also has increased surveillance activities regarding the international spread of disease (e.g., promoting early detection and reporting on both natural infections (emerging and re-emerging) and possible bioterrorism). c) The GOI has already updated the international certificate of vaccination, the ship sanitation control certificates, and the health part of the aircraft general declaration. ¶3. Regarding the required assessment plan, Vellucci stated that the MOH has begun an evaluation of the infectious disease surveillance capacity inside USMAF, which is responsible for monitoring international ports of entry. Vellucci added that the MOH has already answered the WHO Regional Office Questionnaire, which is considered a self-assessment tool for IHR implementation. Spogli