UNCLAS BRASILIA 000552

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SENSITIVE

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC AEMR AMED ASEC KSAF PREL PINR AMGT
KFLO, KPAO, TF, BR
SUBJECT: TFFLU01: H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK AND BRAZIL: SITREP #6

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1. (SBU) This report provides an update on developments in Brazil
regarding the swine flu outbreak.

NEW REPORTED CASES:


2. There are no confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu in Brazil, which is
most likely due to the fact that Brazil does not yet have the
necessary materials to begin testing. The Ministry of Health
expects that once Brazil begins to actively test samples a number of
the current suspected cases of H1N1 will be confirmed. As of the
afternoon of Tuesday, May 5, the Brazilian Ministry of Health, in
conjunction with the National Agency on Health Vigilance (ANVISA) in
Brazil are reporting 25 suspected cases of H1N1 in 9 of Brazil's 27
states, and are monitoring 36 other cases spread throughout 16
states.

BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT'S RECENT ACTIONS:


3. On the afternoon of May 4, the Brazilian government confirmed
press reports stating that a 50 year old woman had died of flu-like
symptoms in a hospital in the State of Rio de Janeiro two days after
returning from the United States on flight originating in Michigan.
The Brazilian government, however, rejected the idea that the
woman's death was caused by the H1N1 flu. Brazilian health
officials are reporting that the woman died of bacterial pneumonia,
and that her body showed signs of septicemia, or blood poisoning,
brought on by the bacterial infection.


4. The Brazilian Government still has not definitively stated when
it expects to be able to begin testing for the H1N1 virus. However,
according to press releases and information obtained by CDC officers
in Brasilia, the CDC has sent testing kits from its headquarters in
Atlanta to Brazil. The kits are being distributed to the three WHO
influenza reference laboratories in Brazil; Fiocruz (Rio de
Janeiro), Evandro Chagas (Belem), and Aldolfo Lutz (Sao Paulo.)
According to CDC sources, with these kits Brazil may be able to
start testing before the end of this week.


5. In the past few days the Ministry of Health's Permanent
Emergency Cabinet has redefined the standards they use to classify
suspected and monitored cases of H1N1 in Brazil. Under the new
standards, individuals who exhibit symptoms of H1N1 after returning
from external areas where there may not be confirmed cases of H1N1
will now also be monitored by the government. The Brazilian
Government chose to broaden its standards in response to the
increasing number of countries and areas throughout the world where
cases of H1N1 has been confirmed.

DEVELOPMENTS WITH MISSION BRAZIL:


6. Mission Brazil stepped up its efforts to distribute sanitation
products, such as hand sanitizer, to personnel who have constant
contact with the public, such as the local guard force and consular
employees. Hand sanitizer is also being placed near the entrances
to the compound and in other common areas to reinforce the
importance of personal hygiene in limiting the spread of this, or
any other influenza strain, within the Mission.


SOBEL