1. GOVERNMENT DECLARED STATE OF HEALTH EMERGENCY IN SOUTHERN PROVINCES OF EL ORO AND LOJA, BORDERING PERU.

2. GOVERNMENT, WITH CO-OPERATION WHO/PAHO AND UNICEF, UNDERTOOK URGENT MEASURES TO AVOID SPREADING OF DISEASE, INCLUDING EPIDEMIOLOGICAL TESTS, IMPORT AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICINES, PUBLIC INFORMATION AND TRAINING. THANKS TO THESE MEASURES, EPIDEMIC MAINLY CONFINED AT THIS STAGE AT FOCI IN EL OROPROVINCE.

3. FOLLOWING AN URGENT GOVERNMENTAL REQUEST THROUGH UNDP/UNDRO REPRESENTATIVE, GOVERNMENTS OF UNITED KINGDOM AND NETHERLANDS PLEDGED USD 27,000 AND USD 26,300 RESPECTIVELY FOR IMMEDIATE PURCHASE ON SPOT OF DIAGNOSTIC MATERIALS AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

4. DATA ON AFFECTED POPULATION AVAILABLE WITH UNDRO, BEING CONSTANTLY UPDATED. GOVERNMENT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER'ALARMIST' PRESS REPORTS.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 414242 DRO CH

DPR 310 ECU'91 (1)