HONG KONG H1N1 UPDATE - EAC MEETING IN RESPONSE TO

UNCLAS HONG KONG 001075 SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/IHB AMBASSADOR LOFTIS, DEPT FOR EAP/CM, DEPT FOR CA/OCS/EAP, DEPT FOR M/PRI, DEPT FOR SES-O, HHS FOR OGHA, CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID AND COGH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMED AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC KFLO KFLU KPAO KSAF MG, PINR, PREL, TBIO, HK, CH SUBJECT: HONG KONG H1N1 UPDATE - EAC MEETING IN RESPONSE TO WHO DECLARATION AND HKG ACTIONS REF: A. A) HONG KONG 1065 ¶B. B) HONG KONG 802 ¶1. Post's Emergency Action Committee (EAC) met June 12 to review pandemic tripwires and reassess our readiness in response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) announcement of a Phase 6 Pandemic Alert and the Hong Kong Government's (HKG) announcement of community transmission (Reftel A),both on June 11. The EAC reviewed steps taken to date, our previous assessment of crossing the Tripwire 2 threshold (Reftel B) and additional steps required in light of the changed situation. ¶2. This public health crisis includes events across the tripwire spectrum, such as the WHO Pandemic Phase 6 declaration. The EAC felt that the relatively low morbidity and mortality of the current strain of H1N1 compared to Avian Influenza (AI),which was the baseline for our tripwires, calls for a more measured response. Post will remain at Tripwire 2 and will continue to review our status and actions as the situation evolves. ¶3. In response to the community outbreak in Hong Kong, Post is taking the following steps: - Health Unit staff will conduct a second round of meetings with personnel in each section/office for continuing training on infection prevention. - The Management Section will review and, if necessary, revise guidance to TDY travelers, to ensure they are well-informed before they depart the United States about the possibility of quarantine when they arrive in Hong Kong. - The Consular Section will continue asking NIV and ACS applicants to self-screen for illness before entering waiting rooms. - In light of the summer travel and transfer season, The Management Section will coordinate pandemic in-briefs for newly arrived personnel and employees and their family members returning from the United States in the months of July and August. DONOVAN