GERMANY H1N1 FLU UPDATE: 19 CONFIRMED CASES

UNCLAS BERLIN 000641 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: 19 CONFIRMED CASES REF: A) Berlin 626, B) Berlin 545, C) Berlin 537, D) Berlin 526, E) Berlin 518, F) Berlin 512, G) Berlin 495, F) Berlin 488 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On May 28, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) confirmed two additional cases of A/H1N1 Influenza in Germany, increasing the total number of confirmed cases to nineteen. A small child from the US and a man from Norway traveling to North Rhine-Westphalia tested positive for H1N1. RKI is also testing a man from Baden-Wuerttemberg who returned from the US with flu like symptoms as a probable case of the new flu. END SUMMARY. New cases of H1N1 in North Rhine-Westphalia -------------- ¶2. (SBU) A two year old Amcit girl traveling with her sister and mother to North Rhine-Westphalia tested positive for H1N1. According to authorities from the city of Duesseldorf, the family, which lives in the US, departed Miami on the way to Hamburg. The family stopped over in Dusseldorf on May 26, where the girl showed flu-like symptoms. She was taken to the city's university hospital where the virus was detected. RKI confirmed this case to be H1N1 on May 28. ¶3. (SBU) RKI also confirmed H1N1 in a 22 year old man from Norway who arrived yesterday in Duesseldorf with flu-like symptoms. He came from the US (New York) and stopped over in Duesseldorf on his way to Norway. He was taken to the university hospital in Duesseldorf on May 27, where he tested positive for the virus. Health officials have informed the national health authorities of fellow passengers to ensure precautionary measures are taken. Additional Possible Case of H1N1 -------------- ¶4. (SBU) RKI is testing a man from Baden-Wuerttemberg who returned from the US as a probable case of the new flu. Tests are currently being conducted at the National Reference Center at the RKI. Results are expected shortly. KOENIG