H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK AND BRAZIL: SITREP #13

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000681 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: H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK AND BRAZIL: SITREP #13 (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 H1N1 flu outbreak. NEW REPORTED CASES: ¶2. (SBU) Mission Brazil is monitoring the situation of four American citizens who are being held in quarantine at a hospital in the city of Palmas, state of Tocantins, under suspicion of having H1N1. The individuals were admitted after experiencing H1N1 flu-like symptoms. None of these individuals have confirmed cases of H1N1, and Mission Brazil's consular officials are in contact with the individuals. In addition, Embassy Brasilia has identified one case of suspected H1N1 infection within the Embassy community. The employee was tested yesterday, May 28, and is being kept in social isolation. The Mission's traveler screening program helped to prevent a situation in which the employee could have infected co-workers within the Embassy. ¶3. (SBU) As of May 29, 2009 the Brazilian Ministry of Health has confirmed 14 cases of the H1N1 flu spread throughout five of Brazil's 26 states and the Federal District. In addition, health officials continue to monitor 20 suspected cases spread throughout nine states. ¶4. (SBU) To date, 12 of the 14 confirmed came from individuals who began to experience flu-like symptoms shortly after returning from trips to the United States or Mexico. The other two cases have occurred from person to person transmission within the country. The Ministry of Health confirmed on Thursday, May 28 that the four most recent cases of the H1N1 flu in Brazil resulted from individuals infected by the virus during trips to the United States. OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: ¶5. (SBU) On May 29, the Brazilian newspaper "O Globo" published an article criticizing the H1N1 alert system being used at Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro. The report criticized airport and health officials for using an H1N1 alert in English that was grammatically "incomprehensible." KUBISKE