GERMANY H1N1 FLU UPDATE: 95 CONFIRMED CASES

UNCLAS BERLIN 000704 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: 95 CONFIRMED CASES REF: A) Berlin 695, B) Berlin 686, C) Berlin 672, D) Berlin 663, E) Berlin 657, F) Berlin 641, G) Berlin 626, H) Berlin 545, I) Berlin 537, J) Berlin 526, K) Berlin 518, L) Berlin 512, M) Berlin 495, N) Berlin 488 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The number of H1N1 cases in Germany rose to 95 on June 11, as nine more people were confirmed to be infected with the new virus. Most of the new cases in Germany are occurring in children and young adults. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) On June 11, the National Reference Center for Influenza at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced in its press briefing nine new laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 in Germany. This increases the total number of confirmed cases in Germany to 95. In 59 of the 95 (total, to date) cases, the infection occurred in the US and 21 of the infections were transmitted in Germany. School Children Contracted with the Virus -------------- ¶3. (SBU) According to media reports most of the new cases in Germany are involving children and young adults. A school in Duesseldorf and a day care centre in Munich have been temporarily closes to minimize the risk of further transmission to other children. ¶4. (SBU) Two three-year old children from Munich (Bavaria) have been confirmed to be infected with H1N1. One girl is treated at a hospital while a boy is treated at home. The kindergarten which has a total of 36 children will remain close for the next 10 days. Additional cases of H1N1 were confirmed at a Japanese International school in Duesseldorf (North Rhine-Westphalia) where 27 children were tested positive for the virus. The infection may have been transmitted by two children (3/6) of a Japanese family who were confirmed to be infected with the virus earlier this week. Both children visited the school. A school in Cologne will also remain closed as students have called in sick reporting about flu-like symptoms. 17 of 34 six graders are currently at home. Experts from RKI are on their way to Cologne to investigate the situation at the school. Media reports that in all cases the course of the virus is mild. All patients are treated at home. German Frigate confirmed to have a H1N1 case on board -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) RKI confirmed yesterday in Berlin that the German frigate "Sachsen" had one case of H1N1 on board. A sailor showed flu-like symptoms shortly after the vessel left the Canadian port of Halifax in May. The man was isolated and treated with Tamiflu. It is reported that he has already fully recovered. No other crew members displayed flu symptoms. The "Sachsen" will returned to Wilhelmshaven, Germany on Saturday. Virus Mutation Likely -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The director of the Robert Koch Institute, JQrg Hacker, said on Thursday that Germany is currently experiencing a "small wave" of infections at the moment, but with the onset of the traditional influenza season in autumn the virus could likely mutate and come back, worsen the course of virus. As to date, RKI has reported that the course of the virus in all confirmed cases has been is mild. KOENIG