TFFLU01: H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK - CHINA SITREP # 5

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 001210 HHS FOR OGHA SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR AMGT, MG, EAGR, HHS, TF, CH SUBJECT: TFFLU01: H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK - CHINA SITREP # 5 REF: A) BEIJING 1197 B) STATE 45269 C) BEIJING 1191 D) BEIJING 1171 E) HONG KONG 802 AMERICANS IN QUARANTINE, QUARANTINE CHARGES, AND NOTIFICATION -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶1. (U) As of COB on May 6 Beijing Time, there are no confirmed cases of infection of humans or livestock by the A/H1N1 influenza virus on Mainland China. One case was confirmed in Hong Kong on May 1 (REF E). ¶2. (SBU) Two American citizens remain under quarantine. --A 38 year-old female has been in quarantine in a local hospital in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province (5 hour drive southwest of Shanghai) since early morning hours of Friday May 1. She has remained in contact with ConGen Shanghai and reports that she is now set to be released on Thursday, May 7, local time, which will be the end of a seven-day quarantine period, the standard used by the Chinese. --A 20 year-old male has been in quarantine in Beijing at Ditan Hospital since afternoon of Saturday May 2. Hospital officials informed Post on May 6 that his quarantine period will end on Monday May 11, not May 9, as he was originally told. ¶3. (SBU) Ditan Hospital now does not intend to release the American citizen currently in quarantine there until May 11, which is past the previously-understood seven-day quarantine period. Doctors now claim the seven-day period began on May 4, when the patient last reportedly showed "fever symptoms," not May 2, the day he was placed into quarantine upon arriving by air from the United States. ¶4. (SBU) The same American citizen also was asked on May 6 to provide a medical insurance card and told that he will receive a bill charging him for medical and incidental costs incurred during his quarantine in Ditan Hospital. Ditan Hospital officials informed Beijing ACS that this reflects the policy of the Beijing Municipal Government. Beijing ACS has requested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provide confirmation and justification of this policy in writing. (NOTE: The Mexican Embassy reported that the Mexican nationals who were released from quarantine and returned to Mexico via charter flight on May 5 were not/not charged for costs incurred during their quarantine. The Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office announced in a press conference on May 5 that all costs of quarantine would be borne by "the government." Press reports indicate Guangzhou also has a "free quarantine" policy in place. END NOTE) ¶5. (SBU) Consular notification of American citizens being transferred into quarantine remains uneven. Foreign Affairs Offices at the provincial and municipal levels have conveyed to Embassy Beijing and consulates that they intend to notify foreign missions of decisions to quarantine their nationals, and in some cases, have provided 24-hour duty phone lines where inquiries can be directed. There have been no new cases involving American citizens to test the efficacy of this approach since last weekend. ¶6. (SBU) A warden message to the American community was sent on May 6, advising residents and travelers of enhanced temperature screening and possible quarantine procedures in place for passengers arriving on international flights. CHINESE CHARTER FLIGHT ARRIVES FROM MEXICO -------------- ¶7. (U) China National Radio reported that the charter flight operated by China Southern Airlines carrying 97 passengers from Mexico was set to arrive at 4:35 PM Wednesday May 6. The report also indicated that all passengers (excluding medical personnel and crew that originally accompanied the charter flight from Guangzhou) would be placed into quarantine for seven days of "medical observation." BEIJING 00001210 002 OF 003 THERMAL IMAGING EQUIPMENT AND QUARANTINE PROCEDURES -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Outbreak-associated H1N1 test kits are in transit and were set to arrive in China from U.S. CDC on afternoon of May 7 Beijing Time. U.S. CDC is scheduled to send three outbreak associated H1N1 viral isolates on May 6, Atlanta time. ¶9. (SBU) In response to REF B, the following information is available: a) Equipment used includes both handheld and fixed position monitors. --Beijing: IR-235 DX FLIR handheld infrared camera; additional fixed position monitors of unknown make/model. --Guangzhou: Two types are in use. One is an infrared thermal imaging system, which is manufactured domestically. The other is a portable, hand-held infrared thermometer, made by both domestic and foreign manufacturers. Make and model information is not available. --Shanghai: German-manufactured Testo 845 and Testo 880 b) Thermal imaging equipment has been set up at airports, land border crossings, and sea ports, as well as at some large event venues like the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou (Canton Fair). c) Thermal imaging is used to monitor passengers from all incoming international flights. d) Temperature cut-off also varies: --Beijing: If thermal imaging registers passenger's temperature as over 37C, s/he will be brought to the negative pressure isolation room for secondary temperature test. If the second test registers over 37.5C, the passenger will be referred for potential quarantine. --Guangzhou: 37.5 degrees Celsius e) Official response to "elevated temperatures" is as follows: --If a passenger is found with an elevated temperature, s/he will be asked to enter an isolation room at the border entry point for initial clinical assessment. --The passenger will be asked if s/he has been to countries or areas where there has been a recent H1N1 outbreak. If the answer is yes, the passenger will be sent to a designated hospital for further examination. --If the passenger tests positive for the H1N1 virus, s/he will be kept for further medical treatment. A seven-day quarantine (medical observation) will be imposed on other passengers on the same plane. --If the passenger with the elevated temperature has been to an H1N1-affected country/area recently and tests negative for the H1N1 virus, s/he will still be placed under medical observation in quarantine place for seven days. Other passengers on the same plane will not be quarantined. --If the passenger states that s/he has not been to an H1N1-affected country/area recently, and further medical examination finds no other H1N1 symptoms such as cough, sore throat, or headache, there will be no quarantine. EXTENDED WAIT FOR U.S. CITIZENS APPLYING FOR CHINESE VISAS BEIJING 00001210 003 OF 003 -------------- -------------- ¶10. (U) The Chinese Embassy in Washington posted a notice on its official website on May 3, announcing that effective May 4, processing time would be 6 business days for people applying in the United States for visas to visit China. It further stated that express and rush services would be suspended and a "Declaration Form" detailing travel for the previous two weeks would also be required. CANADIANS IN QUARANTINE -------------- ¶11. (SBU) The Canadian Health Counselor reported on May 6 that there currently are 20 Canadian citizens being isolated in a hotel in Changchun, Jilin Province. Local press had been reporting the number as 25. Two more Canadian nationals are being quarantined in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. PICCUTA