VZCZCXYZ0015
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #0913 1312239
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 112239Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8047
INFO RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0043
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA 0074
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC

UNCLAS PANAMA 000913 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G - J. MELINE 
ALSO FOR AIAG - R. DALEY 
ALSO FOR IO/T 
HHS FOR A/S SIMONSON AND FOR OGHA - STEIGER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KFLU SENV PM
SUBJECT: HEALTH MINISTER ON REGIONAL FORUM, AVIAN FLU, AND 
SMALLPOX 
 
REF: (A) STATE 69310 (B) STATE 71569 
 
This message is Senstive But Unclassified.  Please Handle 
Accordingly. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Health Minister Camilo Alleyne anticipates 
HHS Secretary Leavitt's participation at a regional forum of 
health ministers the GOP plans to host in early June, with a 
focus on pandemic flu issues.  He is willing to attend the 
June 6-7 IPAPI meeting in Vienna.  Alleyne believes that HHS 
work with the Gorgas Institute on AI is "going well."  The 
GOP will support the U.S. on smallpox issues at the upcoming 
World Health Assembly in Geneva. End summary. 
 
GOP Plans Regional Forum in June; Interested in IPAPI 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Panamanian Health Minister Camilo Alleyne told 
Ambassador on May 11 of the GOP's planned June 7-9 regional 
forum of health ministers, with a focus on pandemic influenza 
issues.  Alleyne anticipates HHS Secretary Leavitt's 
participation and also plans to invite Under Secretary 
Dobriansky, the CDC Director, and other top U.S. health 
officials.  He also plans to invite health ministers from 
Central America, the Caribbean (except Cuba), and several 
South Americans, including Colombia, Peru, Argentina, 
Paraguay, and Uruguay.  Alleyne also envisions participation 
of private sector groups and health care providers.  He said 
the GOP hopes ministers would sign a "declaration on avian 
influenza," but does not propose producing any specific 
agreements. 
 
¶3.  (U) Ambassador noted Post's understanding from HHS that 
Secretary Leavitt planned to attend, but pointed out a 
 
SIPDIS 
potential scheduling issue with the June 6-7 senior officials 
meeting in Vienna of the International Partnership on Avian 
and Pandemic Influenza (IPAPI).  Alleyne said, if necessary, 
he still has time to revise the conference dates to avoid a 
conflict and said that he would be in touch directly with HHS 
to ensure the schedules match up.  He added that he is 
willing to attend the IPAPI meeting and allowed as how it 
could also provide a useful platform to promote the regional 
meeting. 
 
HHS - Gorgas Institute Collaboration "Going Well" 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶4.  (U) Drawing on ref A, Ambassador stressed USG efforts to 
address the threat of avian influenza (AI) and our commitment 
to strengthening international partnerships on AI.  Alleyne 
reiterated the GOP's appreciation for HHS' $1.5 million 
agreement to bolster the Gorgas Institute's laboratory 
capacity for AI surveillance and detection.  He believes the 
effort is "going well," as CDC experts have already helped 
Gorgas with the design of their new laboratory. 
 
GOP Supports U.S. on WHA Smallpox Issue 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Ambassador also raised USG concerns about the World 
Health Assembly's upcoming consideration of a resolution on 
eradicating variola virus stocks (ref B).  Alleyne said he 
had heard similar concerns during his visit to Washington in 
April and said that Panama would support the U.S. at the WHA 
meeting.  He said he already has the "technical 
substantiation" for the GOP's position and that he stands 
ready to intervene from the floor on this issue, if 
necessary, at the WHA. (Comment: USdel to the WHA meeting may 
need to engage directly with the GOP's WHA delegation to 
ensure their vocal support.  End comment.) 
EATON