US embassy cable - 05DUBLIN1094

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001094 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, TBIO, ECON, SOCI 
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: IRELAND GEARING UP 
 
Ref: State 158302 
 
1.  On September 2, Embassy delivered reftel demarche to 
Brain Mullen, Principal Officer, Community Health 
Division, Department of Health and Children.  Mullen said 
that the GOI shared U.S. concerns regarding avian 
influenza and is taking steps to monitor and deter its 
potential spread to Ireland.  The GOI was also revising 
its influenza epidemic plan and maintaining close contact 
with the WHO and EU partners.  Mullen noted that the GOI 
planned to finalize next week a tender for 200,000 doses 
of the prototype H5N1 vaccine, with delivery expected in 
early 2006. 
 
2.  Mullen remarked that while the threat to Ireland via 
migrating birds was considered low, a number of inter- 
agency groups were monitoring the situation.  The Expert 
Group on Influenza, which includes representatives of the 
Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, the 
Department of Agriculture, and the Department of 
Education, was meeting on a monthly basis.  The 
Government Task Force on Emergency Planning and the 
Department of Defense's Office of Emergency Response were 
also liaising with the Expert Group as part of monitoring 
efforts. 
 
3. The primary GOI point of contact for Avian Influenza 
is: 
 
Brian Mullen 
Principal Officer, Community Health Division 
Department of Health and Children. 
Tel: (353) (1) 635-4310 
 
KENNY