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