MGSF01 EMBASSY VIENTIANE EAC DISCUSSES SWINE FLU

UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000200 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR CA/OCS/ACS/EAP STATE FOR M/PRI FOR RMORRITZ STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS EPARRA, AAIT, OESIHA, MED STATE FOR EAP/MLS EMERY STATE FOR OES/AIAG DWINN AND CPATTERSON STATE FOR REO/BKK HHOWARD PASS TO HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER AND HICKEY PASS TO CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID AND COGH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMED AMGT ASEC CASC KFLU KPAO KSAF KSEO TBIO SUBJECT: MGSF01 EMBASSY VIENTIANE EAC DISCUSSES SWINE FLU REF: STATE 41768 ¶1. (SBU) In response the H1N1 outbreak in Mexico and Department guidance reftel, Post Emergency Action Committee (EAC) convened on April 29 to review post contingency plans and actions by the Government of Laos (GOL). The Center for Disease Control (CDC) representative here advised the EAC that the Lao Prime Minister,s Office had requested a briefing on the H1N1 outbreak from the local WHO office; excerpts from the briefing were later broadcast on Lao television and radio. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced that it will "soon" install a thermal imaging machine at Wattay International Airport to check passengers' body temperature. ¶2. (SBU) Our CDC office has ordered viral transport media and reagent from CDC Bangkok for use by the Lao National Center for Laboratory and Epedemiology (NCLE). CDC here has also ordered diagnostic primers and probes from CDC Atlanta, when those are available, for use by the Lao. ¶3. (SBU) Post has issued a Management Notice informing the Embassy community of where to obtain regularly updated information on the outbreak and precautions to take for avoiding influenza infection. Adequate medical supplies for Embassy personnel are in place. We will continue to monitor Lao actions in response to the outbreak. Our CDC office here is in regular contact with the WHO and Ministry of Health. HAYMOND