VZCZCXRO6225
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #0959/01 1250914
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 050914Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4014
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000959 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EEB FOR ANN RYAN 
BANGKOK FOR HOWELL HOWARD AND WINSTON BOWMAN 
STATE PASS USTR JANE DOHERTY 
STATE PASS USTR/OSTA CLAY HAMILTON AND CASEY BEAN 
STATE PASS USAID 
STATE PASS HHS/NIH 
STATE PASS HHS/CDC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC KFLU AEMR CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG, RP 
SUBJECT: MGSF01 AMBASSADOR CHAIRS H1N1 EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE 
 
REF: A) MANILA 0913 B) MANILA 0941 C) State 44254 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador convened Embassy Manila's Emergency 
Action Committee on May 4 to assess the worldwide H1N1 situation, 
the Philippine government response, and Post's current actions and 
next steps.  The Philippines lifted the ban on U.S. pork imports 
thanks to a coordinated Mission effort and recent statements by 
international animal health authorities. Post is coordinating with 
Philippine Government counterparts to monitor the spread of H1N1 and 
prepare to deal with any cases that arise.  Embassy's Medical Unit 
and Community Liaison Office will continue to communicate flu 
prevention information to the Mission community. END SUMMARY. 
 
Emergency Action Committee Meeting 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador convened the Mission Emergency Action 
Committee on May 4 to review the global and regional state of H1N1, 
assess Post preparations for any pandemic, and strategize next 
steps.  So far, no suspected or confirmed cases of H1N1 have been 
documented in the Philippines.  Post has ordered additional 
influenza test kits in case they are needed.  Management Section is 
increasing the frequency of disinfection at Post's high-traffic 
areas and working with the Medical Unit to position hand sanitizer 
at key locations around the Embassy.  The Community Liaison Office 
had already scheduled an Emergency Preparedness Fair for May 9 and 
will now include updated information about flu prevention and what 
steps to take if a family member does fall ill.  Post will not issue 
a warden message at this time to avoid undue panic, but will update 
materials on the Embassy website and in the duty officer kit in case 
questions about H1N1 arise. 
 
No Flu Panic Yet 
---------------- 
 
¶3.  Mission staff have not been unduly alarmed by the outbreak, and 
the Public Affairs Section has not received calls from the local 
media.  American Citizen Services issued its quarterly newsletter 
last week and included two articles about H1N1 flu with links to 
information from the Centers of Disease Control.  Veterans Affairs 
has been conducting an educational campaign for flu prevention and 
has not detected any undue concern among U.S. or Filipino veterans 
whom it serves. 
 
Pork Ban Dropped 
---------------- 
 
¶4.  The Philippine government ended its previous ban on U.S. pork 
(Ref. B) thanks to a coordinated Mission effort and several recent 
public statements by international animal health authorities.  The 
Mission effort to reverse the ban included calls from Mission 
members to Department of Agriculture interlocutors and culminated 
with the Ambassador's meeting with Philippine Agriculture Secretary 
Arthur Yap on May 4.  After a discussion with the Ambassador, 
Secretary Yap agreed that properly cooked pork was safe to eat so 
the Department had no reason to ban U.S. pork and pork products 
(Ref. C), and the Department of Agriculture reversed its ban later 
that day. 
 
Health Ministry Coordination 
---------------------------- 
 
¶5.  USAID will reach out to Philippine Department of Health (DOH) 
officials regarding potential assistance for information, education 
and communications activities. Given possible concerns by Philippine 
authorities about U.S. Military personnel arriving for joint 
exercises, Embassy will assure DOH that all troops undergo 
pre-deployment medical screening prior to every deployment. 
Additionally, all units are accompanied by medical personnel who 
monitor and treat all deployed troops.  If needed, for any type of 
communicable disease, deployed personnel will be quarantined or 
transported out of the country via U.S. Military medical assets. 
 
Next Steps 
---------- 
 
¶6. Management will continue to send Mission members updates on H1N1 
developments.  Mission members will meet with Philippine 
counterparts to assure them that we have plans in place to monitor 
the health of our employees and visiting U.S. Military forces. 
 
 
MANILA 00000959  002 OF 002 
 
 
KENNEY