US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4964

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004964 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMED, CASC, KSCA, SENV, TBIO, PREL, KU 
SUBJECT: FORMATION OF JOINT STATE-DOD AVIAN INFLUENZA 
WORKING GROUP 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 4516 
     B. KUWAIT 4673 
     C. KUWAIT 4755 
 
1.  (U) SUMMARY  Embassy convened a new committee of Emboffs 
and military officers at the working level to coordinate USG 
efforts in Kuwait in preparation for a possible Avian 
Influenza (AI) outbreak.  The group discussed information 
provided by the GOK about its preparations, internal Embassy 
plans and tripwires, and U.S. military plans as they are 
developing.  The group will meet every two weeks.  END SUMMARY 
 
2.  (U)  On November 16 and 29, a new working group 
consisting of Econcouns, ESTHoff, Medoff, and Coalition 
Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC) medical, veterinary, 
and logistical officers met to coordinate USG preparations 
for a possible AI outbreak in Kuwait.  The group numbers 11 
persons.  Emboffs and Miloffs exchanged contact information, 
and agreed to clear all information for the GOK or release to 
the public through the Embassy, with ESTHoff designated as 
the POC. 
 
3.  (U)  Emboffs shared information and recent reporting 
cables detailing GOK plans and preparations for AI, and 
provided a copy of the recently-finalized tripwires (ref c). 
CFLCC officers stated that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is 
still in the process of drafting its own comprehensive plan, 
which will be based on World Health Organization 
recommendations, and will provide a copy of it to Emboffs 
upon its completion. 
 
4.  (SBU)  ESTHoff stressed the need to coordinate the USG 
message to the GOK in order to maintain its confidence that 
the USG tracks the GOK's plans (refs a & b) and is itself 
adequately prepared for any outbreak.  On this point, one 
military medical officer noted that, in addition to roughly 
20,000 uniformed soldiers, there are nearly 40,000 badged 
contractors (and an unknown total of subcontractors) under 
the broader U.S. military umbrella in Kuwait.  He continued 
that he thought it possible that the GOK might expect the USG 
to provide health care, quarantine, et cetera, for these 
contractors, despite their nominal access to the Kuwait 
public health system. 
 
5.  (SBU) This opinion was seconded by other officers who 
explained that since the contracting companies are obligated 
to provide for their employees' healthcare, the GOK certainly 
would expect the USG to enforce those contract provisions, at 
a minimum.  They also stated that the CENTCOM plan therefore 
would likely address contractors to some degree.  All agreed 
that sharing at least the parameters of the CENTCOM plan with 
the GOK could prove beneficial and ease any fear of AI being 
spread by USG workers/contractors.  However, the officers 
were clear to state that the U.S. military in Kuwait does not 
have immediately at hand the resources to quarantine or care 
for all of the contractors found under its umbrella. 
 
6.  (U)  The next meeting is scheduled for December 14, and 
semimonthly thereafter unless events dictate more frequent 
meetings. 
 
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