TFFLU01: H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK AND BRAZIL: SITREP #6

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000552 DEPT FOR OES/IHB AMBASSADOR LOFTIS DEPT FOR WHA/BSC USDA PASS TO APHIS HHS PASS TO CDC HHS FOR OGHA SENSITIVE SIPDIS 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 (U) THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED AND NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. ¶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