TFFLU01: H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK - CHINA SITREP # 11

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001298 HHS FOR OGHA CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID, AND PASS TO FLU COX AND MOUNTS AND COGH BLOUNT AND KELLEY 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 # 11 REF: A) BEIJING 1283 B) BEIJING 1274 C) BEIJING 1264 D) TOKYO 1072 E) BEIJING 1245 F) HONG KONG 802 ¶1. (SBU) As of COB May 14, there are two confirmed cases of H1N1 on Mainland China, one in Jinan City (Shandong Province) confirmed on May 13, and one in Chengdu confirmed on May 11 (REF A and C). There had been one confirmed case previously reported in Hong Kong on May 1 (REF F),and Hong Kong confirmed a second case of H1N1 on May 13 of a man who had arrived in Hong Kong on May 11 on CX879 from San Francisco. STATUS OF AMCIT QUARANTINE CASES -------------- ¶2. (SBU) As of May 14, 80 American citizens are reported to be in quarantine throughout China - 50 are currently being quarantined in Beijing and 30 are quarantined in twelve other provinces and municipalities across China. Of these, 61 were passengers on the May 8 NW029 flight from Tokyo to Beijing with China's first confirmed case of H1N1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Foreign Affairs Offices (FAOs) in several provinces and municipalities continue to request assistance from Embassy Beijing and our Consulates to help locate certain American citizens who traveled on the same flights as the two confirmed cases of H1N1. --Of the 50 AmCits quarantined in Beijing, 46 were passengers on flight NW029 into Beijing on May 8, 40 are being quarantined at the Guomen Hotel, 7 are being quarantined at the Jinglin Hotel, 2 are under observation at Ditan Hospital, and one is under home quarantine. --Seventeen AmCits are now in quarantine in Shandong, Gansu, Shaanxi, Hebei, Henan and Hubei provinces, which all fall under Beijing's Consular district. Of these, twelve are known to have been on the May 8 NW029 flight from Tokyo to Beijing. --Five AmCits remain in quarantine who were on board NW025 from Detroit to Tokyo (Narita) on May 8 with the four confirmed H1N1-infected Japanese passengers (who remain in Japan)(REF D). Four remain in quarantine in Shanghai at the Jin Jiang Star Hotel and one is under house quarantine in Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province). --Four AmCits are in quarantine in Guangdong Province, all of whom were passengers on the May 8 NW029 with China's first confirmed case of H1N1. 
--Two AmCits are in quarantine in Kunming (Yunnan Province),one at the home and one at the First Hospital Affiliated Kunming Medical University. --One AmCit baby remains in quarantine at the Changle Hospital in Fujian Province. INCONSISTENT LENGTHS AND TYPES OF QUARANTINE -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Among the AmCits who are or have been in quarantine throughout China, some have been released sooner than the mandated seven-day period. Embassy Beijing and the U.S. Consulates have received reports from FAOs and AmCits of individuals being released from quarantine after only one or two days. Other AmCits have been allowed to stay under home quarantine. --One AmCit was detained for observation after having exhibiting an elevated temperature upon arrival in Nanjing (Jiangsu Province) via KA 862 on May 13. Jiangsu FAO reported to ConGen Shanghai that the AmCit was released on May 14 after they determined that she was not infected with H1N1. In another case, Fujian FAO reported on May 13 BEIJING 00001298 002 OF 002 that two AmCits, a mother and child, had been quarantined at Changle Hospital on May 12 but were released on May 13 after overnight observation. --Of the 80 American citizens being quarantined in China, six have been allowed to stay under home quarantine across five provinces and municipalities. HEALTH SCREENING IMPOSED ON SCHOOLS -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Embassy Beijing has received reports of schools and District Education Departments issuing new health screening regulations for students and teachers. These measures include the monitoring and reporting of student and teachers' health status and absences from school. According to press reports, on May 13, Guangdong's Education Department issued a circular requesting that all schools implement daily health checks. According to the regulations, students who are absent from school will be investigated and quarantined, if necessary. CHINA WANTS TO TAKE LARGER ROLE IN H1N1 RESPONSE -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) According to China's Ministry of Health website, Minster of Health CHEN Zhu spoke with Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO on May 13, reiterating both China's commitment to provide H1N1 rapid diagnostic training to ASEAN countries and China's desire to co-chair an international symposium on H1N1 with WHO. [Note: Minister Chen had first proposed these ideas on May 8 in Bangkok, Thailand at the ASEAN Plus 3 Senior Health Officials Meeting on A/H1N1. End note.] PICCUTA