ITALY CONFIRMS COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL

UNCLAS ROME 001109 SENSITIVE SIPDIS EUR/WE FOR HARTMANN EUR/PGI FOR PARKER-BURNS OES/IHB FOR FANTOZZI AND WINN IO/HS FOR BLACKWOOD STATE PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN USDA PASS TO APHIS HHS PASS TO CDC HHS FOR OGHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KFLU ECON PREL WHO IT SUBJECT: ITALY CONFIRMS COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL H1N1 FLU PANDEMIC; STILL WORKING OUT THE DETAILS REF: State 97471 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. A senior Italian official in the Labor, Health and Social Policies Ministry confirmed Italy's political commitment to participate in the U.S.-initiated effort to help other countries combat the global H1N1 influenza pandemic. The Italian Government (GOI) is still working out the details of its donation. Points of contact are included in para 4. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On September 24 SCICouns discussed reftel points with the Italian Labor, Health and Social Policies Ministry Diplomatic Advisor, Counselor Manuel Jacoangeli. Couns. Jacoangeli confirmed that the GOI'S Council of Ministers has made the political commitment to participate in the U.S.-led initiative to expand the fight against the global H1N1 influenza pandemic. However, he said, the decision was made after only a very brief discussion, because the Ministers were dealing that day with the news of the death of six Italian servicemen in an attack in Afghanistan. The GOI is still sorting out how it intends to carry out the Italian contribution. ¶3. (SBU) Jacoangeli said that there are both financial issues (the Treasury Ministry would need to approve funds for an actual vaccine donation and, if need be, for getting the vaccine to the recipient countries) and logistical issues (how to maintain a cold storage chain from the source of the vaccine to its destination). He noted that the European Union has not yet ruled the use of a single dose of the vaccines approved in Europe to be sufficient, and that as long as two doses are officially required, it likely will be difficult for Italy to spare 10 percent of its vaccine supply. He also asked how the recipient countries would be chosen. ¶4. (U) SCICouns stressed that it is exactly because of interest in discussing such issues that the USG was requesting points of contact (POCs) on this issue within the GOI. Jacoangeli recommended the following POCs: Assistant Secretary level: Director General for Health Prevention Dr. Fabrizio Oleari Labor, Health and Social Policies Ministry Tel. +39 06 5994-6115 e-mail: f.oleari@sanita.it, with a copy to ar.nuzzo@sanita.it. Technical expert level: Dr. Maria Grazia Pompa Directorate General for Health Prevention Labor, Health and Social Policies Ministry Tel. +39 06 5994 3905 e-mail: m.pompa@sanita.it ¶5. (U) Post expects to be in touch with Dr. Oleari and/or Dr. Pompa in the coming days, and will report additional comments as they are received. THORNE