VZCZCXRO5152
RR RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0315/01 0901407
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311407Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3107
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 2001

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000315 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA, M/PRI AND S/ES-O/CMS; AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB 
OFFICER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT AMED CASC TBIO ASEC KFLU KSAF KSEO KPAO
KU 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY KUWAIT PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS 
UPDATE 
 
REF: A. 08 STATE 67936 
     ¶B. STATE 6306 
     ¶C. STATE 13929 
 
¶1. (SBU) In meetings on March 16 and 23, Post's Pandemic 
Influenza (PI) Working Group approved PI Tripwires and 
undertook contingency planning for a PI outbreak in Kuwait 
(ref A).  Personnel from Post's health, economic, political, 
management, consular and RSO sections, together with 
medical/health U.S. military officers from CENTCOM and ASG 
Kuwait, participated in three hours of discussions and 
planning. 
 
TRIPWIRES 
--------- 
 
¶2. (U) Post's PI Working Group, relevant section heads and 
Front Office approved PI Tripwires (using guidance in ref B) 
for entry into CEPA (per ref C). 
 
CONTINGENCY PLANNING 
-------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Regarding ref A (in particular, paragraph 15 action 
items), Post's PI Working Group approved/confirmed the 
following: 
 
--Post will issue an annual Management Notice and AmCit 
Warden Message regarding both influenza and PI individual 
preparedness.  These notices will be issued every October, 
i.e., at the start of the influenza and migratory seasons, 
and will highlight USG PI resources, individual planning 
checklists, contingency home stockpiling of food, water and 
medicines, and guidance on hygiene and quarantine (ref A, 
para. 15, bullets A through H). 
 
--Post has more than 12 weeks' supply of potable water for 
all Embassy employees and American family members, assuming 
daily water utilization of nine gallons per person or less 
(ref A, para. 15, bullet I). 
 
--Post has adequate medical supplies to contend with a PI 
crisis, including hand sanitizers, antiviral medication, N-95 
respirators, surgical masks, gloves and gowns (ref A, para. 
15, bullet J and K). 
 
--Regarding Ref A, para. 15, bullet L: 
 
*Post's PI Working Group currently meets on a quarterly 
basis, convened by an econoff with responsibility for ESTH 
issues.  In the event that a pandemic outbreak threatens or 
affects Kuwait, Post's EAC will constitute a PI Task Force 
chaired by the DCM. 
 
*Post has limited fuel supplies (there is no storage tank) 
and limited supplies of spare parts for vehicles, HVAC, 
computers, telephones and other communications equipment. 
Post would require additional resources to stockpile fuel and 
the aforementioned spare parts to achieve twelve weeks of 
self-sufficiency. 
 
*In the event of a PI crisis, Post will supplement existing 
cleaning and hygiene regimes with actions based on Center for 
Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for influenza prevention. 
 
*In the event that PI Tripwire 2 is activated, Post would 
design and implement programs to cross-train employees and 
EFMs in the event of large-scale absenteeism. 
 
*In the event of a PI crisis, Post will utilize management 
notices, email, intranet and internet to communicate PI 
status and guidance to Post employees and family members. 
Post's consular section will utilize warden messages, email 
and the Embassy's website to communicate PI status and 
guidance to AMCITS in Kuwait, in close coordination with the 
Department. 
 
EMBASSY-DOD COOPERATION 
----------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The PI Working Group's deliberations have been 
enhanced by the participation of medical/health officers from 
CENTCOM and ASG Kuwait.  In particular, Post is grateful to 
ARCENT Deputy Surgeon COL Dennis Brown -- who has recently 
undertaken extensive PI preparedness planning for ARCENT -- 
for his contributions to Post's planning and tripwires 
 
KUWAIT 00000315  002 OF 002 
 
 
formulation. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Post's PI Working Group agreed to meet with COL 
Brown and his ARCENT colleagues to discuss a possible 
memorandum of understanding (MOU) whereby ARCENT would 
bolster Post's medical and other supplies in the event of a 
major pandemic outbreak and ensuing civil disorder.  Post 
will forward any such MOU to the regional bureau for approval. 
 
********************************************* ********* 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: 
 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it 
********************************************* ********* 
JONES