VZCZCXRO3315
PP RUEHSL
DE RUEHSL #0395 2541125
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 111125Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0155
INFO RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA 0190

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000395 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KFLU AMED ASEC KPAO LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK HEALTH OFFICIALS CRITICAL OF H1N1 PRESS COVERAGE (125 
CASES, NO DEATHS) 
 
¶1. (SBU) We have heard a number of comments from high-level 
Ministry of Health (MOH) officials criticizing local press 
coverage of the H1N1 swine flu virus.  Eleonora Branska, 
Director General in the Department of International Relations at 
the Ministry of Health, privately expressed her feelings that 
the press was becoming overly aggressive and fanning public 
worries.  At the national Public Health Authority (PHA), Sarka 
Kovacsova, Department of International Relations, and Jan Mikas, 
Head of the Department of Epidemiology, expressed confidence in 
Slovakia's flu preparations as well as expressing similar 
concerns about the press.  To date, the PHA reports 125 
confirmed cases of the swine flu and no deaths. 
 
¶2. (SBU) MOH officials appear particularly sensitive to coverage 
comparing plans for GOS vaccine stockpiles with those of other 
countries.  Citing a World Health Organization (WHO) 
recommendation that countries have vaccine doses covering 20 
percent of their population, the Slovak State Material Reserves 
Administration (SSHR) is working toward a vaccine stockpile of 
one million doses, including 700,000 packages of Tamiflu and 
1,000 packages of Tamiflu Dry Syrup targeted for first 
responders and vulnerable populations.  Press coverage has cited 
plans for higher vaccine per capita stockpiles in neighboring 
countries, including the Czech Republic.  At the peak of the 
initial H1N1 scare, MOH and PHA attempted to tamp down public 
worries by arguing that Slovakia was not experiencing a pandemic 
rate of H1N1 infection and pointed to a low 7 percent 
vaccination rate against common influenza as a larger concern. 
 
¶3. (SBU) In concert with the assistance of the WHO Country 
Director in Slovakia, the GOS developed a national legal 
framework for responding to a pandemic influenza outbreak in 
¶2005.  The national plan has lain relatively dormant until the 
onset of the latest swine flu worries, and MoH officials 
acknowledge the need for updates. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Responding to this need, we have sought out ways to 
influence key MOH decision-makers who could benefit from 
exposure to the U.S. system of preparation for pandemic 
influenza.  We thank the International Visitor program and the 
special, end-of-year funding allowing for the timely 
participation of Dr. Adriana Liptakova in the program entitled 
"Public Safety: Preparing for Potential Pandemic Disease."  Dr. 
Liptakova, Chief State Counselor and the Director of the Health 
Care Department, is a critical decision-maker at the MOH.  Still 
in the U.S. participating in the program, Dr. Liptakova has 
already indicated her desire to accelerate GOS preparations and 
change the defensive posture taken by the MOH. 
 
EDDINS