Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING1974
2009-07-14 03:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK - CHINA SITREP #24

Tags:  KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6383
RR RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHGH RUEHPB RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #1974/01 1950319
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140319Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5157
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 9737
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0596
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP/ISA/AP//
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC//J2/J3/J5//
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J00/J2/J3/J5//
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001974 

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 #24

REF: A) BEIJING 1885 B) BEIJING 1816 C) BEIJING 1705
D) BEIJING 1664 E) BEIJING 1636


1302 CASES OF 2009 A/H1N1 CONFIRMED, NOTIFICATIONS TAPERING
---------------------------- ------------------------------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001974

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 #24

REF: A) BEIJING 1885 B) BEIJING 1816 C) BEIJING 1705
D) BEIJING 1664 E) BEIJING 1636


1302 CASES OF 2009 A/H1N1 CONFIRMED, NOTIFICATIONS TAPERING
-------------- --------------


1. (U) China's Ministry of Health (MOH) informed Post on
July 13 that as of July 11, it would no longer be sending
daily notifications on newly-confirmed H1N1 cases and directed
us to the MOH website for the latest H1N1 information. MOH
now posts a daily announcement on their website that includes
the total number of confirmed cases and the total number
recovered and released to date, but no longer reports
information on the locations of the new cases or whether cases
are isolated for treatment at a designated hospital or at
home.


2. (U) According to MOH, as of COB on July 11, there have
been 1302 confirmed cases of infection by the novel 2009
influenza A/H1N1. Of the 1302 confirmed cases, MOH reported
that as of July 11, 1085 infected patients had recovered and
been released from treatment. To date, there have been no
deaths or severe complications due to novel 2009 influenza
A/H1N1 in China.


CHINA EASES QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION MEASURES, AMCIT CASES
DROP
-------------- -------------- --------------
-


3. (U) On July 8, MOH released new H1N1 prevention and
control guidance geared toward provincial and local health
authorities, encouraging them to suspend quarantine of Qclose
contactsQ in centralized locations and provides the option to
treat Qmild casesQ of confirmed cases at home. The guidance
gives local governments latitude to decide how to implement
these new guidelines.


4. (SBU) Reports from Consulates indicate that following the
new guidance, local authorities are emphasizing home
quarantine for exposed persons and home isolation for mild
cases of confirmed infection by H1N1. Guangzhou, which had
already begun to loosen its quarantine and isolation measures
for Chinese citizens resident in the Pearl River Delta a week
earlier (REF A),has extended these new practices to include
all persons. Only those displaying flu-like symptoms at ports
of entry will be sent to hospitals for testing; even for
confirmed H1N1 cases, hospital treatment and Tamiflu are no
longer recommended in China for mild cases. Guangdong Health
Department authorities also report that following these new
measures, medical fees incurred for H1N1 treatment will no
longer be paid by the Chinese government. (NOTE: Before the
July 8 MOH guidance, the Shanghai Health Department had also
announced a shift in its control strategy and measures,
loosening screening procedures and moving away from mandatory
quarantine of close contacts (REF A). END NOTE)


5. (SBU) With the easing of quarantine and control measures,
Consulates have experienced a steep drop-off in new A/H1N1
AmCit quarantine cases, with the total number of AmCits in
quarantine down from over 200 as of July 1(REF A),to less
than a dozen countrywide as of COB on July 13.


MOH RESPONSE TO CDA REQUEST FOR HOME QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION
-------------- -------------- --------------


6. (SBU) On July 10, Embassy Beijing received an official

BEIJING 00001974 002 OF 002


MOH
response to CDAQs July 2 letter to Minister Chen requesting
permission for self-quarantine and home-isolation for the
mission community (REF A). The response leaves the door open
for home treatment of Qmild casesQ of confirmed infections, at
the discretion of the local Health Departments. The response
makes no mention of a request to self-quarantine close
contacts at home, probably because following the new MOH
guidance on July 8 the practice of quarantine of close
contacts in centralized locations should no longer officially
exist. In practice, however, Post could continue to see
residual cases of centralized quarantine of close contacts
until all localities implement home quarantine procedures.


GOLDBERG