MGSF01: EMBASSY AMMAN REVIEWS PREPAREDNESS FOR H1N1

UNCLAS AMMAN 000992 STATE FOR G/AIAG (WINN),OES/IHB, M/MED, NEA/RA STATE PASS USAID FOR GLOBAL HEALTH USDA FOR APHIS GENEVA FOR WHO REPRESENTATIVE USUN ROME FOR FAO SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR AMGT, MG, JO SUBJECT: MGSF01: EMBASSY AMMAN REVIEWS PREPAREDNESS FOR H1N1 INFLUENZA REF: A. Tel Aviv 949 ¶B. State 6306 ¶C. 08 Amman 159 ¶D. 08 Amman 69 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (U) The Embassy's Pandemic Influenza Task Force (PITF) met on April 29 and reviewed Embassy preparedness and Pandemic Tripwires. A message to the Embassy community was sent out with an update on the H1N1 influenza as well as general precautionary guidance. The PITF will continue to monitor the H1N1 influenza evolution, Pandemic Tripwires, as well as steps taken by the Jordanian authorities. The Emergency Action Committee will convene as necessary to determine further Embassy actions. ¶2. (SBU) Jordan has no reported H1N1/swine flu cases as of April 29, but has increased its alert level to match the World Health Organization (WHO) Phase 5. Ministry of Health officials confirm they are well-prepared to tackle any outbreaks and have deployed Tamiflu and personal protective equipment to Amman's Prince Hamza hospital which includes a quarantine facility. Jordan is closely monitoring the two confirmed cases of H1N1 cases in Israel (ref A). As a precautionary measure, the authorities have started requiring that passengers arriving at the airport complete a questionnaire, followed by screening of those coming from the U.S. and Mexico. Visit Amman's Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman BEECROFT