ARGENTINA: HEALTH MINISTER THANKS AMBASSADOR FOR SPEEDY

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000422 DEPT FOR OES/IHB - P. MURPHY AND D. WILUSZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO SOCI PGOV PREL AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: HEALTH MINISTER THANKS AMBASSADOR FOR SPEEDY EMBASSY ASSISTANCE IN DENGUE OUTBREAK REF: BUENOS AIRES 414 ¶1. Following Health Minister Gabriela Ocana's urgent request to Ambassador on April 7 for USG assistance (reftel),post undertook to locate the two large-scale fumigation machines (thermal foggers) that the Health Ministry needed to combat the spread of dengue. FCS contacted a U.S. supplier of this equipment, Curtis Dyna-Fog, to assess availability and explain the urgency of the need. Dyna-Fog officials understood the urgency and pledged to make every effort to have the equipment on the ground in Argentina by April 17. This information was relayed to the Health Ministry, so that they may place the order quickly. On April 8, Minister Ocana personally called the Ambassador to thank him for his follow-through to help obtain the needed equipment under such short notice. ¶2. Ocana also reiterated her appreciation for the social responsibility demonstrated by U.S. companies, in particular SC Johnson, which was providing repellant to the Ministry at half-price. Ministry officials told us they had purchased over US$ 300,000 of repellant and insecticide so far, which was being distributed free of charge to the population in dengue-affected areas. Ambassador told Ocana that the Embassy stands ready to provide additional assistance at any time, should more specific needs arise. Post will continue to report on the dengue outbreak developments. WAYNE