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 KUWAIT 00000315 002 OF 002 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. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES