MGSF01: EMBASSY DILI EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING ON

UNCLAS DILI 000117 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS, CA/OCS/EAP, DS/CC, AND EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC ASEC TBIO AMGT TT SUBJECT: MGSF01: EMBASSY DILI EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING ON H1N1 FLU REF: A. A) 09 STATE 41745, ¶B. B) 09 STATE 6306 ¶C. C) 08 STATE 67922 ¶D. D) 08 STATE 67936 ¶E. E) DILI 115 ¶1. (U) Embassy Dili Emergency Action Committee (EAC),chaired by Deputy Chief of Mission, convened to determine post response to outbreaks of H1N1 influenza. EAC participants included Ambassador, Management Officer, POL/CONS officer, MilRep, Regional Security Officer, Medical Officer, and Community Liaison Officer. ¶2. (U) EAC Chair opened by providing a status report based on reporting from other posts and latest guidance from the Department and the Centers for Disease Control. Chair emphasized that according to World Health Organization guidelines there is not yet a pandemic, and that there have been no confirmed H1N1 cases either in Timor-Leste or elsewhere in the region. Chair provided an assessment of existing tripwires and guidance (reftels A - D) and their applicability to the current situation. ¶3. (SBU) Medical Officer provided an update on GOTL response to the situation (reftel E) and a review of post's inventory of Tamiflu and other supplies required during a flu pandemic. The inventory is sufficient for post's USDH staff and dependents. ¶4. (U) EAC agreed to prepare a management notice for all staff identifying flu symptoms and steps that can be taken to prevent the flu. EAC also decided to disseminate a warden notice containing a brief status report on the situation, including the CDC travel alert in effect for Mexico, and containing references for the Centers for Disease Control and pandemicflu.gov websites as sources of information for breaking developments. Finally, EAC resolved to continue to liaise closely with the GOTL and country directors of the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization. EAC will re-convene to consider further steps as circumstances warrant. KLEMM