Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MANILA959
2009-05-05 09:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Manila
Cable title:
MGSF01 AMBASSADOR CHAIRS H1N1 EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE
how-toVZCZCXRO6225 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHML #0959/01 1250914 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 050914Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY MANILA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4014 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLLECTIVE RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000959
SIPDIS
EEB FOR ANN RYAN
BANGKOK FOR HOWELL HOWARD AND WINSTON BOWMAN
STATE PASS USTR JANE DOHERTY
STATE PASS USTR/OSTA CLAY HAMILTON AND CASEY BEAN
STATE PASS USAID
STATE PASS HHS/NIH
STATE PASS HHS/CDC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC KFLU AEMR CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG, RP
SUBJECT: MGSF01 AMBASSADOR CHAIRS H1N1 EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE
REF: A) MANILA 0913 B) MANILA 0941 C) State 44254
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000959
SIPDIS
EEB FOR ANN RYAN
BANGKOK FOR HOWELL HOWARD AND WINSTON BOWMAN
STATE PASS USTR JANE DOHERTY
STATE PASS USTR/OSTA CLAY HAMILTON AND CASEY BEAN
STATE PASS USAID
STATE PASS HHS/NIH
STATE PASS HHS/CDC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC KFLU AEMR CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG, RP
SUBJECT: MGSF01 AMBASSADOR CHAIRS H1N1 EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE
REF: A) MANILA 0913 B) MANILA 0941 C) State 44254
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador convened Embassy Manila's Emergency
Action Committee on May 4 to assess the worldwide H1N1 situation,
the Philippine government response, and Post's current actions and
next steps. The Philippines lifted the ban on U.S. pork imports
thanks to a coordinated Mission effort and recent statements by
international animal health authorities. Post is coordinating with
Philippine Government counterparts to monitor the spread of H1N1 and
prepare to deal with any cases that arise. Embassy's Medical Unit
and Community Liaison Office will continue to communicate flu
prevention information to the Mission community. END SUMMARY.
Emergency Action Committee Meeting
--------------
2. (SBU) The Ambassador convened the Mission Emergency Action
Committee on May 4 to review the global and regional state of H1N1,
assess Post preparations for any pandemic, and strategize next
steps. So far, no suspected or confirmed cases of H1N1 have been
documented in the Philippines. Post has ordered additional
influenza test kits in case they are needed. Management Section is
increasing the frequency of disinfection at Post's high-traffic
areas and working with the Medical Unit to position hand sanitizer
at key locations around the Embassy. The Community Liaison Office
had already scheduled an Emergency Preparedness Fair for May 9 and
will now include updated information about flu prevention and what
steps to take if a family member does fall ill. Post will not issue
a warden message at this time to avoid undue panic, but will update
materials on the Embassy website and in the duty officer kit in case
questions about H1N1 arise.
No Flu Panic Yet
--------------
3. Mission staff have not been unduly alarmed by the outbreak, and
the Public Affairs Section has not received calls from the local
media. American Citizen Services issued its quarterly newsletter
last week and included two articles about H1N1 flu with links to
information from the Centers of Disease Control. Veterans Affairs
has been conducting an educational campaign for flu prevention and
has not detected any undue concern among U.S. or Filipino veterans
whom it serves.
Pork Ban Dropped
--------------
4. The Philippine government ended its previous ban on U.S. pork
(Ref. B) thanks to a coordinated Mission effort and several recent
public statements by international animal health authorities. The
Mission effort to reverse the ban included calls from Mission
members to Department of Agriculture interlocutors and culminated
with the Ambassador's meeting with Philippine Agriculture Secretary
Arthur Yap on May 4. After a discussion with the Ambassador,
Secretary Yap agreed that properly cooked pork was safe to eat so
the Department had no reason to ban U.S. pork and pork products
(Ref. C),and the Department of Agriculture reversed its ban later
that day.
Health Ministry Coordination
--------------
5. USAID will reach out to Philippine Department of Health (DOH)
officials regarding potential assistance for information, education
and communications activities. Given possible concerns by Philippine
authorities about U.S. Military personnel arriving for joint
exercises, Embassy will assure DOH that all troops undergo
pre-deployment medical screening prior to every deployment.
Additionally, all units are accompanied by medical personnel who
monitor and treat all deployed troops. If needed, for any type of
communicable disease, deployed personnel will be quarantined or
transported out of the country via U.S. Military medical assets.
Next Steps
--------------
6. Management will continue to send Mission members updates on H1N1
developments. Mission members will meet with Philippine
counterparts to assure them that we have plans in place to monitor
the health of our employees and visiting U.S. Military forces.
MANILA 00000959 002 OF 002
KENNEY
SIPDIS
EEB FOR ANN RYAN
BANGKOK FOR HOWELL HOWARD AND WINSTON BOWMAN
STATE PASS USTR JANE DOHERTY
STATE PASS USTR/OSTA CLAY HAMILTON AND CASEY BEAN
STATE PASS USAID
STATE PASS HHS/NIH
STATE PASS HHS/CDC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC KFLU AEMR CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG, RP
SUBJECT: MGSF01 AMBASSADOR CHAIRS H1N1 EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE
REF: A) MANILA 0913 B) MANILA 0941 C) State 44254
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador convened Embassy Manila's Emergency
Action Committee on May 4 to assess the worldwide H1N1 situation,
the Philippine government response, and Post's current actions and
next steps. The Philippines lifted the ban on U.S. pork imports
thanks to a coordinated Mission effort and recent statements by
international animal health authorities. Post is coordinating with
Philippine Government counterparts to monitor the spread of H1N1 and
prepare to deal with any cases that arise. Embassy's Medical Unit
and Community Liaison Office will continue to communicate flu
prevention information to the Mission community. END SUMMARY.
Emergency Action Committee Meeting
--------------
2. (SBU) The Ambassador convened the Mission Emergency Action
Committee on May 4 to review the global and regional state of H1N1,
assess Post preparations for any pandemic, and strategize next
steps. So far, no suspected or confirmed cases of H1N1 have been
documented in the Philippines. Post has ordered additional
influenza test kits in case they are needed. Management Section is
increasing the frequency of disinfection at Post's high-traffic
areas and working with the Medical Unit to position hand sanitizer
at key locations around the Embassy. The Community Liaison Office
had already scheduled an Emergency Preparedness Fair for May 9 and
will now include updated information about flu prevention and what
steps to take if a family member does fall ill. Post will not issue
a warden message at this time to avoid undue panic, but will update
materials on the Embassy website and in the duty officer kit in case
questions about H1N1 arise.
No Flu Panic Yet
--------------
3. Mission staff have not been unduly alarmed by the outbreak, and
the Public Affairs Section has not received calls from the local
media. American Citizen Services issued its quarterly newsletter
last week and included two articles about H1N1 flu with links to
information from the Centers of Disease Control. Veterans Affairs
has been conducting an educational campaign for flu prevention and
has not detected any undue concern among U.S. or Filipino veterans
whom it serves.
Pork Ban Dropped
--------------
4. The Philippine government ended its previous ban on U.S. pork
(Ref. B) thanks to a coordinated Mission effort and several recent
public statements by international animal health authorities. The
Mission effort to reverse the ban included calls from Mission
members to Department of Agriculture interlocutors and culminated
with the Ambassador's meeting with Philippine Agriculture Secretary
Arthur Yap on May 4. After a discussion with the Ambassador,
Secretary Yap agreed that properly cooked pork was safe to eat so
the Department had no reason to ban U.S. pork and pork products
(Ref. C),and the Department of Agriculture reversed its ban later
that day.
Health Ministry Coordination
--------------
5. USAID will reach out to Philippine Department of Health (DOH)
officials regarding potential assistance for information, education
and communications activities. Given possible concerns by Philippine
authorities about U.S. Military personnel arriving for joint
exercises, Embassy will assure DOH that all troops undergo
pre-deployment medical screening prior to every deployment.
Additionally, all units are accompanied by medical personnel who
monitor and treat all deployed troops. If needed, for any type of
communicable disease, deployed personnel will be quarantined or
transported out of the country via U.S. Military medical assets.
Next Steps
--------------
6. Management will continue to send Mission members updates on H1N1
developments. Mission members will meet with Philippine
counterparts to assure them that we have plans in place to monitor
the health of our employees and visiting U.S. Military forces.
MANILA 00000959 002 OF 002
KENNEY