Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ISLAMABAD938
2009-05-01 12:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
POST MEETING ON H1N1 READINESS
how-toVZCZCXRO0712 RR RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #0938 1211213 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 011213Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2549 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 1640 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 3162 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4826 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0207 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0230 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 1558 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 7162 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 6097 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4827
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000938
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR AMGT CASC PK
SUBJECT: POST MEETING ON H1N1 READINESS
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000938
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR AMGT CASC PK
SUBJECT: POST MEETING ON H1N1 READINESS
1. (SBU) Summary. Post held a meeting of the H5N1 Avian Influenza
Committee to assess Embassy readiness should the H1N1 Swine-Origin
Influenza Virus(S-OIV) spread to Pakistan. The committee reviewed
supplies and tripwires as well as discussed various scenarios and
plans for locally engaged staff (LES) and local guards. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) The H5N1 Avian Influenza Committee met to discuss the
preparedness of Post should the H1N1 virus reach Pakistan. In
attendance were representatives from RMO, MGMT, RSO, RAO and ECON.
RMO began the meeting by listing all of Post's supplies: Islamabad
has in its inventory six hundred (600) courses of antiviral
medications; Lahore and Peshawar each have sixty (60)
immediately-available courses; and Karachi has one hundred twenty
(120) courses immediately available. RMO also explained that both
the Embassy and Consulates also have personal protection equipment
(PPE),such as protective masks, gowns, and hand sanitizer, readily
available.
3. (SBU) Post will be using similar tripwires as we would use under
an H5N1 outbreak though we recognize that there are differences,
including confirmed cases of human to human transfer of H1N1.
4. (SBU) The committee discussed several precautions should H1N1
extend to Pakistan. For example, we have made preparations for Post
expeditors at international airports to facilitate USG employees
arriving in Pakistan should they be screened for communicable
diseases. Should H1N1 spread to the Embassy/Consulate, Post will
ask for volunteers to become primary caregivers, which will help to
free up the Health Unit staff to attend to the rest of the Mission.
5. (SBU) Caregivers will be given medication and PPE to provide
some measure of protection. In the case of LES infection, the LES
will designate one person of his/her choice to be the primary
caregiver, and Post will provide medications and PPE to these
individuals as well. Post will test anyone with flu symptoms and
require anyone who exhibits symptoms to stay home for 7 days until
after the fever breaks to return to work, as per the current Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations. Post will send test
samples to Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences
(AFRIMS) in Bangkok as Pakistani laboratories are unable to
accurately identify H1N1 with their existing technologies. Post is
drafting a management notice for distribution to all employees which
will provide guidance on how to deal with any suspected H1N1 cases.
FEIERSTEIN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR AMGT CASC PK
SUBJECT: POST MEETING ON H1N1 READINESS
1. (SBU) Summary. Post held a meeting of the H5N1 Avian Influenza
Committee to assess Embassy readiness should the H1N1 Swine-Origin
Influenza Virus(S-OIV) spread to Pakistan. The committee reviewed
supplies and tripwires as well as discussed various scenarios and
plans for locally engaged staff (LES) and local guards. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) The H5N1 Avian Influenza Committee met to discuss the
preparedness of Post should the H1N1 virus reach Pakistan. In
attendance were representatives from RMO, MGMT, RSO, RAO and ECON.
RMO began the meeting by listing all of Post's supplies: Islamabad
has in its inventory six hundred (600) courses of antiviral
medications; Lahore and Peshawar each have sixty (60)
immediately-available courses; and Karachi has one hundred twenty
(120) courses immediately available. RMO also explained that both
the Embassy and Consulates also have personal protection equipment
(PPE),such as protective masks, gowns, and hand sanitizer, readily
available.
3. (SBU) Post will be using similar tripwires as we would use under
an H5N1 outbreak though we recognize that there are differences,
including confirmed cases of human to human transfer of H1N1.
4. (SBU) The committee discussed several precautions should H1N1
extend to Pakistan. For example, we have made preparations for Post
expeditors at international airports to facilitate USG employees
arriving in Pakistan should they be screened for communicable
diseases. Should H1N1 spread to the Embassy/Consulate, Post will
ask for volunteers to become primary caregivers, which will help to
free up the Health Unit staff to attend to the rest of the Mission.
5. (SBU) Caregivers will be given medication and PPE to provide
some measure of protection. In the case of LES infection, the LES
will designate one person of his/her choice to be the primary
caregiver, and Post will provide medications and PPE to these
individuals as well. Post will test anyone with flu symptoms and
require anyone who exhibits symptoms to stay home for 7 days until
after the fever breaks to return to work, as per the current Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations. Post will send test
samples to Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences
(AFRIMS) in Bangkok as Pakistani laboratories are unable to
accurately identify H1N1 with their existing technologies. Post is
drafting a management notice for distribution to all employees which
will provide guidance on how to deal with any suspected H1N1 cases.
FEIERSTEIN