JORDAN REPORTS 13 H1N1 INFLUENZA CASES

UNCLAS AMMAN 001399 STATE FOR G/AIAG (WINN),OES/IHB, ECA, M/MED, NEA/RA STATE PASS USAID FOR GLOBAL HEALTH USDA FOR APHIS GENEVA FOR WHO REPRESENTATIVE USUN ROME FOR FAO SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR AMGT, JO SUBJECT: JORDAN REPORTS 13 H1N1 INFLUENZA CASES REF: A. State 63491 ¶B. Amman 1055 ¶C. Amman 992 ¶D. State 6306 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (U) Jordan has reported thirteen H1N1 cases as of June 22. The first two cases were reported on June 15, followed by 8 cases of Jordanian and Palestinian students returning from the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program (ref A). Thermal scanning sensors at Amman's Queen Alia International Airport alerted the authorities to the twelfth case -- a 16-year-old Iraqi girl who was returning from the U.S to Baghdad on an ECA-funded sports exchange program. The most recent thirteenth case was confirmed on June 21 -- a 30-year-old Filipina domestic helper, who arrived in Jordan on a Kuwait Airways flight on June 16 and reported to a hospital on June 18 suffering from H1N1 symptoms. The fact that the first 12 reported H1N1 cases have originated in the U.S. has engendered some discussion on local online news sites (www.ammonnews.net) and one print report which characterize the U.S. as an "exporter of swine flu." ¶2. (SBU) Ministry of Health (MOH) officials confirm they are well-prepared to tackle any outbreaks and have deployed Tamiflu and personal protective equipment to 18 hospitals including Amman's Prince Hamza hospital which includes a quarantine facility and is designated as the lead hospital for H1N1 cases. A special hot-line has been established to deal with suspected cases and general inquiries. The MOH has also received approvals from the Prime Minister's office to order H1N1 vaccines (when available) for 15% of the population. Visit Amman's Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman BEECROFT