EMBASSY KUWAIT PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000315

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, M/PRI AND S/ES-O/CMS; AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB
OFFICER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT AMED CASC TBIO ASEC KFLU KSAF KSEO KPAO
KU
SUBJECT: EMBASSY KUWAIT PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS
UPDATE

REF: A. 08 STATE 67936

B. STATE 6306

C. STATE 13929


1. (SBU) In meetings on March 16 and 23, Post's Pandemic
Influenza (PI) Working Group approved PI Tripwires and
undertook contingency planning for a PI outbreak in Kuwait
(ref A). Personnel from Post's health, economic, political,
management, consular and RSO sections, together with
medical/health U.S. military officers from CENTCOM and ASG
Kuwait, participated in three hours of discussions and
planning.

TRIPWIRES
--------------


2. (U) Post's PI Working Group, relevant section heads and
Front Office approved PI Tripwires (using guidance in ref B)
for entry into CEPA (per ref C).

CONTINGENCY PLANNING
--------------


3. (SBU) Regarding ref A (in particular, paragraph 15 action
items),Post's PI Working Group approved/confirmed the
following:

--Post will issue an annual Management Notice and AmCit
Warden Message regarding both influenza and PI individual
preparedness. These notices will be issued every October,
i.e., at the start of the influenza and migratory seasons,
and will highlight USG PI resources, individual planning
checklists, contingency home stockpiling of food, water and
medicines, and guidance on hygiene and quarantine (ref A,
para. 15, bullets A through H).

--Post has more than 12 weeks' supply of potable water for
all Embassy employees and American family members, assuming
daily water utilization of nine gallons per person or less
(ref A, para. 15, bullet I).

--Post has adequate medical supplies to contend with a PI
crisis, including hand sanitizers, antiviral medication, N-95
respirators, surgical masks, gloves and gowns (ref A, para.
15, bullet J and K).

--Regarding Ref A, para. 15, bullet L:

*Post's PI Working Group currently meets on a quarterly
basis, convened by an econoff with responsibility for ESTH
issues. In the event that a pandemic outbreak threatens or
affects Kuwait, Post's EAC will constitute a PI Task Force
chaired by the DCM.

*Post has limited fuel supplies (there is no storage tank)
and limited supplies of spare parts for vehicles, HVAC,
computers, telephones and other communications equipment.
Post would require additional resources to stockpile fuel and
the aforementioned spare parts to achieve twelve weeks of
self-sufficiency.

*In the event of a PI crisis, Post will supplement existing
cleaning and hygiene regimes with actions based on Center for
Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for influenza prevention.

*In the event that PI Tripwire 2 is activated, Post would
design and implement programs to cross-train employees and
EFMs in the event of large-scale absenteeism.

*In the event of a PI crisis, Post will utilize management
notices, email, intranet and internet to communicate PI
status and guidance to Post employees and family members.
Post's consular section will utilize warden messages, email
and the Embassy's website to communicate PI status and
guidance to AMCITS in Kuwait, in close coordination with the
Department.

EMBASSY-DOD COOPERATION
--------------


4. (SBU) The PI Working Group's deliberations have been
enhanced by the participation of medical/health officers from
CENTCOM and ASG Kuwait. In particular, Post is grateful to
ARCENT Deputy Surgeon COL Dennis Brown -- who has recently
undertaken extensive PI preparedness planning for ARCENT --
for his contributions to Post's planning and tripwires

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formulation.


5. (SBU) Post's PI Working Group agreed to meet with COL
Brown and his ARCENT colleagues to discuss a possible
memorandum of understanding (MOU) whereby ARCENT would
bolster Post's medical and other supplies in the event of a
major pandemic outbreak and ensuing civil disorder. Post
will forward any such MOU to the regional bureau for approval.

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:

http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
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JONES