GERMANY H1N1 FLU UPDATE: 12 CONFIRMED CASES; Bavarian

UNCLAS BERLIN 000545 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/CE PETER SCHROEDER STATE FOR OES/IHB STATE FOR AID/GH/HIDN USDA PASS TO APHIS HHS PASS TO CDC HHS FOR OGHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KFLU ECON PREL SOCI CASC EAGR MX GM SUBJECT: GERMANY H1N1 FLU UPDATE: 12 CONFIRMED CASES; Bavarian Authorities Contemplate Vaccination Formulation for fall flu season REF: A) Berlin 537, B) Berlin 526, C) Berlin 518, D) Berlin 512, E) Berlin 495, F) Berlin 488 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) today confirmed another case of A/H1N1 Influenza in Germany, increasing the total number of confirmed cases to twelve. ONE woman from Bavaria tested positive for H1N1 after returning from Mexico. RKI reports a mild course of the virus in Germany. END SUMMARY. Seventh Case of H1N1 in Bavaria -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The National Reference Center for Influenza at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced in its morning press briefing May 11 another laboratory-confirmed case of H1N1 for Germany. This increases the total number of confirmed cases in Germany to twelve (Refs A,B,C,D,E). ¶3. (SBU) A 27 year old woman from the Main-Spessart district in Lower Franconia (Bavaria) tested positive for H1N1 after returning from a trip to Mexico. RKI report that the woman stayed in Mexico for several weeks where she cared for patients with respiratory problems at a hospital. Media report that the woman had no fever or major problems when she returned to Germany. Although HEALTH official report she has already full recovered from the virus, she has been isolated at home as a precautionary measure. This is the seventh confirmed case of A/H1N1 for the federal state of Bavaria (other Bavarian cases reported in Refs A,D,E). Mild cases of H1N1 in Germany -------------- ¶4. (SBU) RKI reported today that none of the A/H1N1 cases in Germany are considered serious. The course of the virus has been mild in all twelve confirmed cases. There is no "immediate threat" for the population, said RKI. German Infected in the U.S. traveled to Arizona -------------- -- ¶5. (SBU) As reported in Ref A, a man from Bavaria tested positive for H1N1 after returning from the U.S., the eleventh confirmed virus case for Germany. ConGen Munich's Post medical advisor Dr. Nikolaus Fruehwein spoke to the Bavarian Ministry of HEALTH and subsequently informed ConGen Munich that the case likely came from Arizona. ¶6. (SBU) According to Fruehwein the Bavarian Ministry of Health is discussing what vaccine to pursue for the fall - the normal "seasonal" flu vaccine or ONE for H1N1. A "tetravalent" vaccine with both antibodies in it would not be possible since the H1N1 is "different" from the other flu strains. He said the incidence of H1N1 cases is decreasing going down. If there is to be a second wave, it would occur within four to six weeks. In general, Fruehwein was "optimistic" that there would be no "second wave." KOENIG