ARGENTINA: HEALTH MINISTER REQUESTS U.S. ASSISTANCE IN

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000414 DEPT FOR OES/IHB - P. MURPHY AND D. WILUSZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO SOCI PGOV PREL AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: HEALTH MINISTER REQUESTS U.S. ASSISTANCE IN FIGHT AGAINST DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAK ¶1. The Ambassador met with Health Minister Gabriela Ocana on April 7 at her request to discuss ways that the USG could assist with the outbreak of dengue fever in Argentina over the past couple of months. According to Ministry of Health figures, there are now 7,415 locally contracted cases of dengue, three of which are hemorrhagic fever. While 18 provinces have reported dengue cases, the overwhelming majority of cases are confined to the four northwestern provinces of Chaco (3,506),Catamarca (2,348),Salta (1,185),and Jujuy (340). Minister Ocana has been criticized in the media for being slow to act; she lamented that the dengue outbreak has been overly politicized. ¶2. Asked what assistance the U.S. could provide, Minister Ocana focused on the immediate need for two heavy fumigation machines (500 liter capacity),to be sent to the provinces of Catamarca and Corrientes. She indicated that the Health Ministry had already purchased three such machines but that the local representative of the U.S. firm supplying this equipment (Curtis Dyna-Fog) had run out of stock. The Minister was very thankful for the assistance provided by U.S. firm Johnson and Johnson, which had supplied health authorities with large quantities of repellant at half price. Ocana praised Johnson and Johnson's solidarity and social responsibility. ¶3. Post is contacting U.S. providers of large-scale fumigation equipment to locate the machinery requested. While the Ambassador offered other ways to help, such as laboratory work or consultations with U.S. experts, Ocana did not see the need for any additional assistance at this stage. Post will continue to report on the dengue outbreak as warranted by events. WAYNE