H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK - CHINA SITREP # 18

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001466 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, CH SUBJECT: H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK - CHINA SITREP # 18 REF: A) BEIJING 1396 B) BEIJING 1377 C) BEIJING 1362 D) BEIJING 1352 43 CASES OF 2009 A/H1N1 CONFIRMED, 10 AMCIT CASES -------------- -------------- ¶1. (U) As of COB June 2, China's Ministry of Health (MOH) has officially communicated information about 43 confirmed cases of infection by the novel 2009 A/H1N1 influenza virus and one suspected case. Ten of those confirmed cases involve American citizens. Confirmed cases have been detected in eight provinces and the municipalities of Beijing and Shanghai, with the greatest number of cases occurring in Guangdong Province (13),Beijing (11),and Shanghai (7). ¶2. (SBU) Cases involving American citizens have been reported in Beijing, Guangdong Province (multiple locations),and Henan Province. Consular officers in Beijing and Guangzhou have established and maintained contact with Amcits being treated in local hospitals. The first Amcit case, one involving a 65 year-old male whose infection was confirmed on May 22, was released from Ditan Hospital in Beijing on May 27. ¶3. (SBU) The Ministry of Health also reports that four Canadian nationals and one Venezuelan national are being treated in isolation, with confirmed infection by A/H1N1. "VOLUNTARY" SELF-QUARANTINE RECOMMENDED -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Chinese government is now recommending that travelers arriving from countries or regions "where H1N1 prevails," including the United States, should "stay at home for self-monitoring for seven days" after arrival (irrespective of whether they themselves have flu symptoms). Quarantine officials at airports are distributing information cards to all international arrivals to that effect. ¶5. (SBU) While official contacts have stressed that this measure is strictly voluntary, Post has received reports that some local authorities are being exceedingly cautious and are imposing mandatory quarantine periods on all American travelers hosted by their institutions. Reports of trip cancellations, postponements, and refusals to receive American visitors for meetings have become increasingly common. ¶6. (SBU) On June 1, Beijing ACS issued a warden message to the American community mission-wide, alerting them to this recommendation by the Chinese government. The warden message also urged travelers to communicate early and often with respective tour groups, host institutions, or hotels before departing for China, to determine what self-quarantine procedures (if any) they likely will face upon arrival. The same information has been posted on Embassy and Consulate websites. SCREENING PROCEDURES -------------- ¶7. (U) ConGen Guangzhou reports that as of May 25, the initial temperature cut off point was revised to 37 degrees Celsius (down from 37.5). This revision has been applied to airports, land border crossings, and sea ports, where thermal imaging equipment is being used. If a passenger's temperature is above 37 degrees Celsius, the thermal imaging equipment will sound an alarm. The passenger will then undergo a second temperature test. If the temperature is above 37.5 degrees Celsius, or the passenger exhibits flu-like symptoms, the passenger will be referred to the local CDC. (NOTE: This measure appears to apply primarily to the border province of Guangdong, where the greatest number of "imported cases" have been reported. END NOTE) BEIJING 00001466 002.2 OF 002 ¶8. (SBU) An Amcit man reported to Beijing ACS that he was quarantined on May 31 while trying to depart China on a flight to San Francisco. He said he had received his boarding pass and was about to go through security screening when temperature sensors detected he had a fever. He was quarantined at Ditan Hospital in Beijing before being released on June 2. Post has thus far not heard of other instances of Amcits being quarantined while attempting to leave China, but will report on any similar cases that may occur. PICCUTA