Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANDARSERIBEGAWAN99
2009-05-01 05:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Cable title:
MGSF01: Brunei's response to H1N1
how-toVZCZCXRO4078 OO RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHDH RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO DE RUEHBD #0099/01 1210508 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 010508Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4515 INFO RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA IMMEDIATE RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 3504 RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGVA/USMISSION GENEVA 0097 RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000099
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
SINGAPORE FOR MED/BROWNL
STATE FOR CA/OCS/EAP
STATE FOR EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG
STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS EPARRA
STATE FOR M/PRI/MORRITZR
STATE FOR OES/AIAG
STATE FOR REO/BKK/HOWARDH
HHS FOR OGHA
CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID AND COGH
USDA FOR APHIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC TBIO PREL PINR BX
SUBJECT: MGSF01: Brunei's response to H1N1
SUMMARY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000099
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
SINGAPORE FOR MED/BROWNL
STATE FOR CA/OCS/EAP
STATE FOR EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG
STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS EPARRA
STATE FOR M/PRI/MORRITZR
STATE FOR OES/AIAG
STATE FOR REO/BKK/HOWARDH
HHS FOR OGHA
CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID AND COGH
USDA FOR APHIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC TBIO PREL PINR BX
SUBJECT: MGSF01: Brunei's response to H1N1
SUMMARY
1.(SBU) Brunei has yet to report a confirmed H1N1 cases. Two
suspected cases were recently cleared by Brunei's Ministry of
Health. Brunei has instituted their National Pandemic Action Plan.
Ambassador Todd has asked for updates from GoB on the action plan.
To date, there has been a series of public health warning, mirroring
WHO guidelines. In addition, Brunei is screening arriving passenger
at Brunei's only airport via thermal scanners. There has not been a
reduction in flights from Brunei's national airline. In addition,
primary screening facilities have been set up at medical clinics, as
well as establishing an isolation facility at a local hospital.
Embassy officials held an EAC to discuss current situation in
Brunei. In addition, Embassy staff met with other local embassies to
discuss contingency plans. The only notable concern, to date, is a
report of lack of Tamiflu at certain medical offices and facilities
used by the expatriate community. End Summary.
BRUNEI'S RESPONSE TO H1N1
--------------
2. (SBU) On April 27th, the Ministry of Health (MoH) held an
emergency meeting on H1N1 virus. Starting on April 28th, a series
of public notices were issued throughout Brunei. In addition,
thermal scanners were placed at the Brunei International Airport as
well as the main commercial port. Brunei does have the capability of
placing scanning equipment at land borders but has not chosen to do
so at this point in time. To date, there are no confirmed H1N1
cases in Brunei. Two Bruneians returned from Canada were placed in
isolation upon their return but were cleared. (NOTE: Brunei does
not have appropriate testing facilities and send all samples to the
WHO Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia. End Note.) The National
Disaster Management Center (NDMC) has also met with MoH officials to
discuss next steps Brunei will take and both organizations are
looking to update Brunei's National Pandemic Action Plan. Ambassador
Todd, along with other members of the diplomatic corp, have asked
the MoH, along with the NDMC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to
brief the diplomatic corp on Brunei's action plan.
EMBASSY BRUNEI PREPARED
--------------
3. (SBU) Embassy EAC met (see Septel) on April 30th. Current
embassy supplies of Tamiflu and PPE are sufficient but embassy will
look to augment as appropriate. Tripwires were reviewed. Warden
message has been sent to all AmCits within Brunei with an update on
the local conditions. Embassy officials also met with Australian,
British, and Canadian embassies to discuss contingency planning.
All missions are using the opportunity to review contingency plans
and beginning preparations should the H1N1 virus appear in Brunei or
surrounding Malaysian states. All missions agreed to share
information and updates, as appropriate.
MEDICINE AND FLIGHTS
--------------
4. (SBU) MoH reports 500,000 Tamiflu tablets are available within
Brunei's national health stockpile. MoH stated they will ask to
drawdown 500,000 more Tamiflu tablets from the ASEAN stockpile
shortly. There are reports that the Jerudong Park Medical Center
(JPMC) does not have Tamiflu in stock. In addition, certain medical
offices used by the expatriate community also report not having
Tamiflu on hand. MoH officials, some of whom sit on the board of
JPMC, will be following up on this issue. In addition, many AmCits
have access to privately run and well-stocked medical clinics
operated by large multi-nationals, such as Brunei Shell Petroleum.
The ability to receive new supplies should not be hindered as
Brunei's national airline, Royal Brunei Airlines, has reported that
they do not plan to curtail flights at this time.
COMMENT
--------------
BANDAR SER 00000099 002 OF 002
5. (SBU) Embassy believes current response by Brunei's government
has been sufficient given local conditions. Ambassador Todd and
embassy staff continue to assess the situation daily. Brunei
relative isolation and lack of direct air access could provide
additional protection from the spread of H1N1 to Brunei.
TODD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
SINGAPORE FOR MED/BROWNL
STATE FOR CA/OCS/EAP
STATE FOR EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG
STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS EPARRA
STATE FOR M/PRI/MORRITZR
STATE FOR OES/AIAG
STATE FOR REO/BKK/HOWARDH
HHS FOR OGHA
CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID AND COGH
USDA FOR APHIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC TBIO PREL PINR BX
SUBJECT: MGSF01: Brunei's response to H1N1
SUMMARY
1.(SBU) Brunei has yet to report a confirmed H1N1 cases. Two
suspected cases were recently cleared by Brunei's Ministry of
Health. Brunei has instituted their National Pandemic Action Plan.
Ambassador Todd has asked for updates from GoB on the action plan.
To date, there has been a series of public health warning, mirroring
WHO guidelines. In addition, Brunei is screening arriving passenger
at Brunei's only airport via thermal scanners. There has not been a
reduction in flights from Brunei's national airline. In addition,
primary screening facilities have been set up at medical clinics, as
well as establishing an isolation facility at a local hospital.
Embassy officials held an EAC to discuss current situation in
Brunei. In addition, Embassy staff met with other local embassies to
discuss contingency plans. The only notable concern, to date, is a
report of lack of Tamiflu at certain medical offices and facilities
used by the expatriate community. End Summary.
BRUNEI'S RESPONSE TO H1N1
--------------
2. (SBU) On April 27th, the Ministry of Health (MoH) held an
emergency meeting on H1N1 virus. Starting on April 28th, a series
of public notices were issued throughout Brunei. In addition,
thermal scanners were placed at the Brunei International Airport as
well as the main commercial port. Brunei does have the capability of
placing scanning equipment at land borders but has not chosen to do
so at this point in time. To date, there are no confirmed H1N1
cases in Brunei. Two Bruneians returned from Canada were placed in
isolation upon their return but were cleared. (NOTE: Brunei does
not have appropriate testing facilities and send all samples to the
WHO Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia. End Note.) The National
Disaster Management Center (NDMC) has also met with MoH officials to
discuss next steps Brunei will take and both organizations are
looking to update Brunei's National Pandemic Action Plan. Ambassador
Todd, along with other members of the diplomatic corp, have asked
the MoH, along with the NDMC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to
brief the diplomatic corp on Brunei's action plan.
EMBASSY BRUNEI PREPARED
--------------
3. (SBU) Embassy EAC met (see Septel) on April 30th. Current
embassy supplies of Tamiflu and PPE are sufficient but embassy will
look to augment as appropriate. Tripwires were reviewed. Warden
message has been sent to all AmCits within Brunei with an update on
the local conditions. Embassy officials also met with Australian,
British, and Canadian embassies to discuss contingency planning.
All missions are using the opportunity to review contingency plans
and beginning preparations should the H1N1 virus appear in Brunei or
surrounding Malaysian states. All missions agreed to share
information and updates, as appropriate.
MEDICINE AND FLIGHTS
--------------
4. (SBU) MoH reports 500,000 Tamiflu tablets are available within
Brunei's national health stockpile. MoH stated they will ask to
drawdown 500,000 more Tamiflu tablets from the ASEAN stockpile
shortly. There are reports that the Jerudong Park Medical Center
(JPMC) does not have Tamiflu in stock. In addition, certain medical
offices used by the expatriate community also report not having
Tamiflu on hand. MoH officials, some of whom sit on the board of
JPMC, will be following up on this issue. In addition, many AmCits
have access to privately run and well-stocked medical clinics
operated by large multi-nationals, such as Brunei Shell Petroleum.
The ability to receive new supplies should not be hindered as
Brunei's national airline, Royal Brunei Airlines, has reported that
they do not plan to curtail flights at this time.
COMMENT
--------------
BANDAR SER 00000099 002 OF 002
5. (SBU) Embassy believes current response by Brunei's government
has been sufficient given local conditions. Ambassador Todd and
embassy staff continue to assess the situation daily. Brunei
relative isolation and lack of direct air access could provide
additional protection from the spread of H1N1 to Brunei.
TODD