Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BERLIN488
2009-04-28 05:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
3 SUSPECTED SWINE FLU CASES IN GERMANY / EMBASSY
how-toVZCZCXRO0485 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDF RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO DE RUEHRL #0488 1180531 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 280531Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3938 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0325 RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT 7959 RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD FAS WASHINGTON DC 0097 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0714 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1449
UNCLAS BERLIN 000488
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE PETER SCHROEDER
STATE FOR OES/IHB
USDA PASS TO APHIS
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA
STATE FOR AID/GH/HIDN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH ECON PREL SOCI CASC EAGR MX GM
SUBJECT: 3 SUSPECTED SWINE FLU CASES IN GERMANY / EMBASSY
PREPARATIONS
REF: SECSTATE 41768
UNCLAS BERLIN 000488
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE PETER SCHROEDER
STATE FOR OES/IHB
USDA PASS TO APHIS
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA
STATE FOR AID/GH/HIDN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH ECON PREL SOCI CASC EAGR MX GM
SUBJECT: 3 SUSPECTED SWINE FLU CASES IN GERMANY / EMBASSY
PREPARATIONS
REF: SECSTATE 41768
1. (SBU) German media reported on April 27 that three
Germans -- two men who recently returned from Mexico and a
woman -- have been quarantined in the western city of
Bielefeld after exhibiting swine flu-like symptoms.
Preliminary tests on two of the patients did not support
suspicions of swine flu, but both will remain in isolation,
pending the results of additional tests. At present, no
further information is available on the third case.
2. (SBU) The Mission Germany Pandemic Influenza Working
Group (PIWG) will meet by DVC on April 28, at 1400 local
time, where they will review existing Mission tripwires for
adequacy and completeness, discuss current posture and
application of the no double standard policy, and ask open
questions of the Health Unit.
3. (SBU) Mission Health Unit has confirmed adequate supplies
of personal protective equipment (PPE) and antiviral
medications. Health Unit will increase surveillance for flu
symptoms in the Mission and report regularly to
STATE/MED/DASHO. Mission Germany has reopened lines of
communication with the local Berlin health authorities. We
have also confirmed that the Robert Koch Institute, the
German government-sponsored research institution charged with
protecting public health and monitoring infectious diseases,
will post situation reports and updates on their website
http://www.rkL.de (German only).
4. (SBU) Our contacts at the Agriculture Ministry (BMELV)
tell us that they view this outbreak as a human, rather than
animal, disease outbreak. That said, Germany has not imposed
any trade restrictions in reaction to the swine flu outbreaks
among humans in Mexico or the US. They also indicated that
veterinary issues are coordinated within the context of the
EU, suggesting that Germany is unlikely to put any trade
restrictions in place without EU Directives.
Koenig
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE PETER SCHROEDER
STATE FOR OES/IHB
USDA PASS TO APHIS
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA
STATE FOR AID/GH/HIDN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH ECON PREL SOCI CASC EAGR MX GM
SUBJECT: 3 SUSPECTED SWINE FLU CASES IN GERMANY / EMBASSY
PREPARATIONS
REF: SECSTATE 41768
1. (SBU) German media reported on April 27 that three
Germans -- two men who recently returned from Mexico and a
woman -- have been quarantined in the western city of
Bielefeld after exhibiting swine flu-like symptoms.
Preliminary tests on two of the patients did not support
suspicions of swine flu, but both will remain in isolation,
pending the results of additional tests. At present, no
further information is available on the third case.
2. (SBU) The Mission Germany Pandemic Influenza Working
Group (PIWG) will meet by DVC on April 28, at 1400 local
time, where they will review existing Mission tripwires for
adequacy and completeness, discuss current posture and
application of the no double standard policy, and ask open
questions of the Health Unit.
3. (SBU) Mission Health Unit has confirmed adequate supplies
of personal protective equipment (PPE) and antiviral
medications. Health Unit will increase surveillance for flu
symptoms in the Mission and report regularly to
STATE/MED/DASHO. Mission Germany has reopened lines of
communication with the local Berlin health authorities. We
have also confirmed that the Robert Koch Institute, the
German government-sponsored research institution charged with
protecting public health and monitoring infectious diseases,
will post situation reports and updates on their website
http://www.rkL.de (German only).
4. (SBU) Our contacts at the Agriculture Ministry (BMELV)
tell us that they view this outbreak as a human, rather than
animal, disease outbreak. That said, Germany has not imposed
any trade restrictions in reaction to the swine flu outbreaks
among humans in Mexico or the US. They also indicated that
veterinary issues are coordinated within the context of the
EU, suggesting that Germany is unlikely to put any trade
restrictions in place without EU Directives.
Koenig