TFFLU01: H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK AND BRAZIL: SITREP #9

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000579 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 #9 REF: A) Brasilia 517, B) Brasilia 523, C) Brasilia 530, D) Brasilia 538, E) Brasilia 542, F) Brasilia 552, G) Brasilia 560, H) Brasilia 566 (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. (SBU) As of the afternoon of May 8 the Brazilian Ministry of Health continues to report four confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu in Brazil. The four cases are spread throughout three states: Sao Paulo (2 cases),Rio de Janeiro (1 case) and Minas Gerais (1 case). All of these cases involve young adults, each of whom recently returned from travelling in Mexico or the United States. The Ministry asserts that three of the four have returned home and are no longer contagious, while the fourth remains hospitalized in Rio de Janeiro. The Ministry of Health is also monitoring people who have had close contact with infected individuals. ¶3. (SBU) Health officials are reviewing laboratory tests for an additional 15 suspected cases throughout the country and say that the results should be released within the next 72 hours. There are 21 other potential cases also being investigated. The Ministry also reports that over 90 cases have been eliminated as potential H1N1 cases. Currently there is no evidence of human to human transmission of H1N1 within Brazil. BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT'S RECENT ACTIONS: ¶4. (SBU) The Ministry of Health and the National Agency on Health Vigilance (ANVISA) continue to affirm that the government is prepared to handle the appearance of H1N1 in Brazil. Transportation and health officials continue to monitor and observe passengers coming into Brazil via air and land. These procedures include playing recorded messages alerting travelers of what symptom to be on the lookout for, conducting interviews of travelers exhibiting flu-like symptoms, and passing out brochures. Officials at Brazil's international airports have also recently set up isolated rooms within each airport, which will be used to hold and interview travelers exhibiting flu-like symptoms. ¶5. (SBU) The Government of Brazil continues to stress to the Brazilian public that there is no need to panic and that the government is prepared to handle the situation. In public remarks, the Brazilian Minister of Health, Jose Gomez Temporao, again exhorted the public not to self-medicate, and insisted that 52 hospitals throughout the country were prepared with enough medicine should the virus become more widespread. DEVELOPMENTS WITH MISSION BRAZIL: ¶6. (SBU) Mission Brazil feels the preventive procedures in place are sufficient given the current situation. These procedures include promoting good hygiene, making hand sanitizer available, having the Medical Unit screen travelers for flu-like symptoms, and asking the consular customers with flu-like symptoms reschedule their appointment to return when they are well. The Mission is issuing updated warden messages in light of the test results. SOBEL