VZCZCXRO3449
PP RUEHAST RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKU #0436/01 1201411
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301411Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3271
INFO RUEHZN/SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1414
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 2008

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000436 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, OES/UHB, MED, AIAG 
STATE PASS TO AID 
HHS FOR OGHA 
HHS PASS TO CDC 
USDA PASS TO APHIS 
AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB OFFICER 
BAGHDAD FOR ESTH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH PGOV ECON KSCA KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT'S H1N1 FLU PREPARATIONS 
 
REF 08 KUWAIT 315 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Drawing on pre-existing avian influenza 
preparatory work, the GOK is proactively implementing measures to 
prepare Kuwait for a possible pandemic outbreak related to H1N1 
influenza.  Current measures include: passenger screening (for high 
temperature) at airports and seaports; procurement of additional 
antiviral medication; referral of suspected cases, if any, to the 
Infectious Diseases Hospital; monitoring and treatment of those in 
contact with suspected cases, if any; establishment of an H1N1 flu 
hotline; and contingency plans for school closings and restrictions 
on public gatherings including election rallies.  Meanwhile, Post 
has initiated daily meetings of a sub-group of the pandemic 
influenza working group and has disseminated two warden messages, 
one of which was carried on front pages in local newspapers April 
¶30.  End Summary 
 
¶2. (SBU) Emboffs met with Dr. Musaab Al-Saleh, Director of the 
Communicable Diseases Department at the Ministry of Health (MOH), 
and his deputy, Dr. Najla Al-Odhaidhan on April 30 to discuss the 
GOK's pandemic influenza preparedness.  Al-Saleh, who is the GOK's 
principal coordinator for pandemic flu preparedness, provided a 
detailed overview of the Ministry's planning, as well as measures at 
Kuwait International Airport.  Al-Saleh -- a respected U.S.-trained 
public health expert -- was open in his opinion that the H1N1 flu 
outbreak had significant potential to result in a global pandemic. 
He emphasized that updates and guidelines enunciated by the USG's 
CDC and the WHO are informing his department's policies vis-`-vis 
H1N1 influenza. 
 
AIRPORT MEASURES 
---------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) MOH officials at the airport have begun screening 
passengers arriving from affected countries, including the U.S. and 
the United Kingdom.  Medical personnel are checking passengers' 
temperatures using non-invasive laser technology.  Musaab said that 
the GOK had placed an "urgent" order for thermal scanning equipment, 
computers and software, which will be installed at the airport in 
approximately 10 days.  He said that arriving passengers would be 
asked to complete health questionnaires and would be instructed to 
report to a Government clinic if they developed flu-like symptoms 
within seven days of arriving in Kuwait.  However, recent reports 
from the airport and the local United Airlines office indicate that 
airport authorities are imposing more stringent requirement, whereby 
all passengers arriving from the U.S. and other affected countries 
are required to report to a Government hospital within 72 hours of 
arriving in Kuwait.  (Note: Econoff subsequently spoke to Al-Saleh 
who insisted that his earlier statement stood and that the airport 
authorities' actions were not authorized by his office.  He 
undertook to try to correct the situation.  Post will continue to 
follow up.  End note). 
 
¶4. (SBU) Al-Saleh said that the GOK had no plans to restrict entry 
to travelers from affected countries; he added that any such 
decision is "political" and would likely involve the Council of 
Ministers.  He agreed to remain in constant contact with the Embassy 
on this subject.  He noted that the GOK was concerned about the 
impact of a pandemic in Iraq and the potential for Iraqis to try to 
cross into Kuwait, which could overwhelm Kuwait's health care 
system. 
 
¶5. (U) Al-Odhaidhan said that the MOH was implementing procedures 
developed over the past three years to contend with an avian 
flu-initiated pandemic.  As such, she and Al-Saleh voiced confidence 
in the MOH's ability to react to suspected cases of H1N1 flu in 
Kuwait.   They said that all doctors had been instructed to refer 
suspected cases to the Infections Diseases Hospital and that all 
testing would be undertaken by the MOH's virology laboratory, which 
has been in communication with the CDC in Atlanta, GA.  They said 
that people who might have been in contact with those affected by 
H1N1 flu would be monitored and, where appropriate, provided with 
antiviral medicines and/or quarantined in their homes. 
 
¶6. (U) The MOH has established an H1N1 flu hotline for citizens and 
residents of Kuwait, currently open from 8am to 10pm, though 
Al-Odhaidhan said the center's operations may become 24/7.  Al-Saleh 
 
KUWAIT 00000436  002 OF 002 
 
 
said that 50% of the inquiries coming into the center relate to 
travel and tourism: he said that the MOH was recommending that 
Kuwaitis postpone tourism-related travel for the time being.  The 
MOH is forming a media team to handle outreach with local media and 
may prepare a dedicated website for informing the general public. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Al-Odhaidhan said that the GOK currently has 10 million 
doses of Tamiflu and Al-Saleh said that the MOH is procuring a 
further 2.5 million doses.  He said the MOH was also procuring 
additional stocks of Relenza. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Al-Saleh said that GOK officials have discussed the 
possibility of closing schools and restricting public gatherings in 
the event of an outbreak in Kuwait.  Responding to a question from 
emboffs, he said that if the situation warranted it, he and his 
superiors would formally recommend postponing the parliamentary 
elections slated for May 16. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Al-Saleh asked for information regarding the U.S. 
military's measures to screen servicemen and women arriving in 
Kuwait.  Emboffs told him that U.S. military elements in Kuwait have 
worked on pandemic flu preparedness and that a formal briefing could 
be arranged, if the MOH so requested. 
 
POST'S MEASURES 
--------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) A sub-group of Post's pandemic influenza working group is 
meeting daily to ensure coordination and flow of information (MGMT, 
CONS, ECON, HU, RSO and PAS).  The pandemic influenza working group 
will meet on Sunday, April 3, to review Post's tripwires and to 
discuss preparedness.  (Note: Post recently completed an extensive 
redrafting of pandemic influenza tripwires (reftel).  End note). 
 
¶11. (U) Post's consular section disseminated warden messages 
relating to H1N1 influenza preparedness on April 29 and 30, the 
earlier of which was carried on front pages in local newspapers. 
 
JONES