VZCZCXRO6759
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2465/01 1640907
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130907Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1470
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 1271
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHZS/ASEAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2696
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5779
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 9356
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 4363
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2320
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 0805
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 3346

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 002465 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR UNDER SECRETARY PDOBRIANSKY 
STATE FOR AMBASSADOR JLANGE 
STATE FOR OES/IHA FOR JKAUFMANN, DSINGER AND RDALEY 
STATE FOR INR/EAP FOR JSTROTZ 
STATE FOR EAP/EX 
STATE FOR M/MED 
STATE PASS USDA/FAS/ICD FOR ROSENBLUM 
STATE PASS USDA/FAS/DL&P FOR MAGINNIS 
STATE PASS USDA/FAS/ITP/AA FOR ALEXANDER 
STATE PASS USDA/FAS/FAA FOR HAGER 
STATE PASS USDA/APHIS/IS FOR HOFFMAN 
STATE PASS USDA/APHIS/VS FOR DUVERNOY 
STATE PASS USDA/ARS/SEPRL FOR SUAREZ 
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCARROLL AND ACLEMENTS 
BANGKOK FOR REO JAMES WALLER 
CIA FOR NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL NIO/EA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO SENV EAGR EAID PREL RP AMGT AMED
 
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON AVIAN INFLUENZA - PHILIPPINES 
 
MANILA 00002465  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Sensitive but Unclassified - Not for Internet - Protect 
Accordingly. 
 
REF: A) MANILA 2319   B) MANILA 2207    C) MANILA 1567 
     D) MANILA 860    E) STATE 023826   F) 05 STATE 209622 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  (U)  Post's Avian Influenza Task Force met on June 7 to 
review current initiatives and plans to prepare for a 
potential outbreak of Avian Influenza in the Philippines. 
The Task Force is chaired by USAID and includes 
representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the 
Medical Unit, Management, Consular, Economic, Political, 
Public Affairs, Peace Corps and JUSMAG. The Ambassador 
chaired this session of the Avian Influenza Task Force to 
review status and discuss next steps.  End summary. 
 
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Situation Analysis 
------------------ 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  The Philippines has had no confirmed case of H5N1 
to date.  The country is at high risk given migratory bird 
patterns which transit from infected neighboring countries, 
exotic bird smuggling from Indonesia and back yard farming 
operations which co-mingle various animals including 
chickens, ducks and pigs.  If an outbreak were to occur, the 
highly mobile Filipino population could present a 
significant challenge for AI containment efforts. 
 
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GRP Preparedness Efforts 
------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (U)  The Philippines has a National AI Task Force co- 
chaired by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health. 
Together with private sector groups, the GRP developed a 
credible national preparedness plan and a communications 
strategy.  However the plan remains under-funded and 
preparedness initiatives have not penetrated to remote rural 
areas.  Post's Task Force members agreed that surveillance 
capacity remains weak and would benefit from additional 
coordinated donor assistance. 
 
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USG Support 
----------- 
 
¶4.  (U)  USAID has secured a FY06 budget of $680,000 to 
support AI preparedness programs.  In addition, Health and 
Human Services (HHS) has allocated $1.2 M for AI assistance 
to the Philippines.  USAID is working to strengthen public 
awareness and is sponsoring Municipal Preparedness Planning 
Workshops in 33 provinces across the Philippines to educate 
animal and human health officials about surveillance 
techniques and containment strategies.  USAID will mobilize 
technical support from NGOs to coordinate community-based 
 
MANILA 00002465  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
early warning systems to help protect the Mindanao border, 
which is a transit point between the Philippines and AI- 
infected countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.  USAID is 
also printing posters and flyers to provide important 
information about the AI threat and resources for further 
information to the broadest possible audience.  (The posters 
and flyers will be printed in several local languages.)  In 
August 2006 USAID will provide technical support to conduct 
outbreak drills at the local level.  On an ongoing basis, 
Post is working closely with the private sector and the 
international donor community to leverage funding for key 
initiatives. 
 
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Post Preparations 
----------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  The Regional Medical Officer (RMO), together with 
the AI Task Force, has evaluated threats posed by pandemic 
influenza and taken prudent precautions to protect the 
mission community.  The Medical Unit has an inventory of 
32,000 doses of Tamiflu, which could be provided to mission 
employees, eligible family members (EFM) and foreign service 
nationals (FSN) in the event of a serious outbreak.  The 
Task Force discussed the importance of a clear and 
consistent message to the community on the availability and 
limitations of the Tamiflu stock to help manage expectations 
in the event of a pandemic situation.  (The Tamiflu is 
stored in a secure, climate controlled area.)  The Medical 
Unit has ordered personal protective equipment to safeguard 
the health of its employees in addition to that of the 
embassy community.  It has adequate stocks of emergency 
supplies and medications in the event of an outbreak to 
stabilize and treat patients prior to transfer to a hospital 
facility.  The RMO continues to liaise with counterparts in 
other embassies, representatives from the WHO and CDC, local 
medical providers and facilities and with the local 
Department of Health.  The Medical Unit has also been 
involved with ongoing education efforts within and outside 
the embassy community regarding infection control measures, 
importance of yearly flu vaccinations and food handling to 
reduce the risk of spread in the event of an outbreak of 
pandemic flu. 
 
¶6.  (U)  The Management Office (MGT) has spearheaded the 
effort to prepare tripwires and preparedness plans, which 
are posted on the Mission's Intranet site.  MGT notes that 
in the event of pandemic influenza, travel restrictions may 
hinder the mission's ability draw down to essential 
personnel.  The Ambassador underlined the need to be 
prepared to act quickly, should developments warrant an 
authorized departure.  Task Force members will review the 
tripwires and incorporate updated contingency plans as 
necessary. 
 
¶7.  (U)  The Consular Section has sent out warden messages 
to advise Americans in the Philippines of prudent 
preparedness measures.  Post is incorporating points on the 
U.S. Government's National Preparedness Plan for Pandemic 
Influenza into the next warden message.  Additionally, AI 
 
MANILA 00002465  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
preparedness will be discussed at the upcoming warden 
conference on June 30. 
 
¶8.  (U)  The Economic Section, USAID and USDA have 
coordinated with government contacts in the Department of 
Agriculture, Department of Health and Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources to discuss the U.S. 
Government's National Preparedness Plan for Pandemic 
Influenza and the importance of counter-AI initiatives in 
the RP.  Post is also working with business contacts to 
evaluate the potential impact of an AI outbreak on U.S. 
interests in the RP and on the RP economy itself. 
 
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Next Steps 
---------- 
 
¶9.  (U)  The Embassy Task Force will organize a town hall 
meeting in Fall 2006 (after the summer transfer season) for 
mission employees and eligible family members, to provide an 
update on preparation plans and respond to any questions or 
concerns.  FCS will join the AI Task Force to provide 
perspective on U.S. and GRP trade and business interests. 
The U.S. Veterans Affairs and its Manila VA Clinic will also 
join the Task Force.  A follow-up AI Task Force meeting will 
be held on June 15 to review tripwires and outbreak 
preparedness measures.  The Ambassador raised AI with the 
Philippines Secretary of Agriculture and will continue to 
raise AI in her courtesy calls with members of the 
Philippine Cabinet.  The Ambassador will also stop by a 
regional AI seminar sponsored by USAID on her upcoming trip 
to Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao. 
 
KENNEY