Cablegate: Nicaragua Response: New Delhi Conference On Avian

VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMU #2523 3342316
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 302316Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1738
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHSUN/USUN ROME IT 0002

UNCLAS MANAGUA 002523

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/AIAG -- BOGGESS AND SUMMERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU EAGR EAID TBIO PREL NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA RESPONSE: NEW DELHI CONFERENCE ON AVIAN
AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

REF: SECSTATE 159330

1. (U) On November 29, we delivered REFTEL non-paper to Dr.
Juan Jose Amador Velazquez, the Director General for
Epidemiology at the Ministry of Health (MINSA). On Novermber
30, we delivered the non-paper to Dr. Mario Jose Gonzalez
Herrera, Chief of the Department of Epidemiology at the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAGFOR). Both were
appreciative of the notification about the conference and
were interested in exploring the possibility of travel funded
by FAO. Both Amador and Gonzalez concurred that the possible
outbreak of Avian Influenza in the Western Hempishere was a
major concern and provided us with short briefings on the
existing mechanisms in place at each Ministry to monitor and
detect any such outbreak. Most interesting was the fact that
MINSA has in place a nation-wide radio network through which
the Ministry recieves daily communication and health status
reporting from the field. Amador also noted that MINSA has
regular communications with its counterparts throughout
Central America, including on the topic of Avian Influenza.
Both Amador and Gonzalez indicated keen interest in having
Nicaragua represented at the New Delhi Conference and
determined to raise the issue immediately with their
respective Ministers. (Note: Currently all foreign travel by
Nicaraguan officials must be personally approved in advance
by First Lady Rosario Murillo. Both Amador and Gonzalez were
keen to attend, but were unsure that there was sufficient
time to clear the travel request with the First Lady. END
NOTE.)

2. (U) We also transmitted the information about the New
Delhi Conference via Diplomatic Note to the Foreign Ministry
on November 29, and hand delivered copies to our Health and
Agriculture Ministry contacts. In addition, on November 28
talking points on the conference were discussed with Dr.
Carolina Davila, the Special Assistant to Minister Gonzalez,
while MINSA's coordinator for International Programs, Rosa
Argentina Madriz, was sent the non-paper, the conference's
program agenda and Website. Finally, we included the same
information in a previously-planned letter from the
Ambassador to the new Minister of Health regarding several
pending issues of bilateral interest.
TRIVELLI

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