GREECE H1N1 FLU UPDATE: 730 CONFIRMED CASES; NATIONAL ACTION

UNCLAS ATHENS 001389

SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/IHB
STATE FOR USDA/FAS/OSTA
STATE PASS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
STATE PASS CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC KFLO KFLU AEMR TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, GR
SUBJECT: GREECE H1N1 FLU UPDATE: 730 CONFIRMED CASES; NATIONAL ACTION
PLAN ANNOUNCED

REF: 09 ATHENS 691; 09 ATHENS 1035


1. SUMMARY. As of July 29, according to the Greek Ministry of
Health, there have been 730 confirmed H1N1 cases in Greece. Although
there have been no fatalities so far, three serious cases of flu
implications are being treated in the intensive care units of Greek
hospitals. Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos announced on July
15 that the Ministry was stepping up measures and moving on from
simply recording incidents to action for preventing the spread of the
virus. He said that 8 million vaccines have been ordered and that
vaccination of high-risk groups would begin in the fall, when a new
vaccine is expected to be ready. The Minister stressed on July 28
that the National Action Plan prepared to face the pandemic will be
updated every two weeks in accordance with the development of the new
flu and all available data. Meanwhile, sensational press reports in
the last few weeks forced medical associations to suggest remaining
calm and avoiding exaggerated reaction. END SUMMARY.
H1N1 Cases
--------------

2. As of July 29, the Greek Ministry of Health announced that there
have been 730 confirmed cases of H1N1 infection in Greece. The Greek
health authorities estimate that the number of patients may be higher
as some patients have not needed hospitalization or other medical
assistance, meaning that these cases go unrecorded. Of the 730
confirmed cases, about 95 percent have fully recovered, and the rest
are receiving medical care either in hospitals or at home for mild
symptoms of the new influenza. Three individuals, however, are
hospitalized in serious condition in the intensive care units of
hospitals in Crete and Athens. Whereas in the beginning of the
pandemic, recorded incidents involved people that had travelled to
Greece from abroad, in the last month, authorities have observed an
increase in secondary transmission of the virus, micro-epidemics, and
clumping of incidents.
Private American Citizen Cases
--------------


3. The Consular Section is unaware of any cases of American citizens
currently under treatment for H1N1 in Greece. Fourteen students from
Johnson and Wales University were tested positive and treated at the
AHEPA hospital in Thessaloniki on July 2nd but were released on July

6. Their cases were described as minor. Two other citizens were
briefly quarantined in Athens in late June. To date, we are aware of
twenty seven cases of private American citizens who tested positive
for H1N1, all of the diagnoses coming in the last weeks of June and
early July.

GoG Response: A National Action Plan
--------------


4. Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos announced on July 15 that
the Ministry was stepping up measures and moving on from simply
recording incidents to taking action to prevent the spread of the
virus. He clarified that the GoG's emphasis will shift from merely
recording cases to assessing their gravity and likely complications.
A total of 1,000 beds have been made available in hospitals
nationwide for patients that develop complications, but the GoG is
prepared to make more available by September. The Minister said that
8 million vaccines have been ordered and that vaccination of
high-risk groups will begin in the fall, when a new vaccine is
expected to be ready. On July 28, the Minister stressed that the GoG
has prepared a National Action Plan to respond to the pandemic, and
it will be updated every two weeks in accordance with the development
of the virus. Details of the National Action Plan will be revealed
in the next few days, following its submission to the Prime Minister
and political party leaders.
Sensational Press Reports
--------------

5. H1N1 has been attracting front page attention in the Greek press
in the last few weeks, particularly after the first serious cases of
patients needing intensive care after developing pneumonia were made
known. For example, headlines have included the following titles:
"Killer Flu"; "Three in Critical Condition"; "Experts Fear Thousands
Will Need Intensive Care"; "Pharmacies Have Run Out of Medical
Masks". These sensational press and TV reports have forced the
Medical Associations of Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as prominent
doctors and epidemiology professors, to urge that people remain calm
and exercise better judgment, emphasizing that the virus of panic is
far more dangerous than the virus of any flu.
SPECKHARD