VZCZCXYZ3003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNY #0612 2791514
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061514Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7865
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS OSLO 000612 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA PASS TO APHIS 
HHS FOR CDC AND OGHA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC AMED TBIO KFLU KFLO CASC NO
SUBJECT:  Oslo's Pandemic Influenza Action Committee (PIAC) and EAC 
Readout 
 
REF:  State 099088 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Post convened a Pandemic Influenza Action 
Committee (PIAC) October 1 to review post's EAP and tripwires 
related to pandemic influenza. The PIAC developed recommendations 
for the EAC regarding appropriate preparedness measures specific to 
this post. Post's EAC, chaired by the Charge d'Affaires, met and 
approved the PIAC's recommendations on October 6.  It was the PIAC 
and EAC's finding that the Mission remains well below the tripwires 
that would trigger a drawdown.  The PIAC, comprised of all relevant 
sections and agencies at post, will meet regularly to monitor any 
new developments regarding pandemic influenza during the upcoming 
flu season.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) Post's PIAC met on October 1 to review reftel and Section 
H-754.4 of our EAP (regarding Health and Environment).  As elsewhere 
in Europe, the H1N1 virus in Norway has so far resulted in limited 
fatalities (seven) and has not led to widespread illness or 
absenteeism.  However, the GON no longer has an accurate count of 
infectious cases because many patients are simply staying home and 
resting.  While the official number of documented cases of H1N1 is 
less than 1,300, the true number is probably five times as high. 
 
¶3.  (U) As recommended by post's PIAC and approved by the EAC, the 
CLO will send guidance to all families this week, recommending 
embassy employees stockpile a 12-week supply of food and medication. 
 Those with limited storage space will be assigned a partner family 
responsible for delivering food if needed during the quarantine of 
the affected employee.  The CLO and nurse will also remind all 
employees of the location of the after-hours pharmacy in Oslo and of 
the address and phone numbers of the two main clinics and the 24 
hour medical facility used by Embassy employees. 
 
¶4.  (U) The Health Unit has confirmed that stocks of hand sanitizer, 
anti-virals, N-95 respirators, surgical masks, gloves, and gowns are 
adequate.  Our CHAR force has increased the frequency with which it 
cleans commonly touched surfaces and we have made disinfectant soap 
available at offices that have frequent contact with the public. 
Management has emphasized the importance of cross-training within 
sections in case absenteeism increases during the course of the flu 
season. 
 
¶5.  (U) The GON has launched a web site (www.fhi.no) that includes 
an English-language section with advice on preventing, detecting and 
treating H1N1.  The large stockpile of H1N1 vaccines the GON has 
amassed would be available to LES staff and presumably to diplomatic 
staff as well (we are attempting to confirm this).  New confirmed 
cases of H1N1 are currently running at the rate of about 100 per 
week, significantly below the rate of new infections registered in 
August.  Post officers and nurse are also in contact with the Oslo 
International School, where there have been no confirmed cases of 
H1N1 thus far, and where absenteeism has been running at normal 
rates. 
 
October 6 EAC Meeting 
--------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) In a meeting on October 6, the EAC accepted the PIAC's 
recommendations to implement common-sense precautions relevant to 
the current situation at post, including implementing steps this 
week to inform  embassy personnel, including family members and 
locally engaged staff.  The PIAC will continue to meet regularly 
throughout the flu season and will make additional recommendations 
to the EAC as the situation warrants.  Attendees at the EAC were: 
Charge d'Affaires (Chair); A/DCM (pol/econ counselor); RSO; 
Management Counselor; Cons; RAO; PAO; CLO; A/DATT; Staff Sergeant 
(MSG Detachment Commander); Office of Defense Cooperation. 
 
HEG