Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS1347
2009-10-06 06:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

BELGIUM: SECOND BELGIUM DEATH FROM A/H1N1 PANDEMIC FLU

Tags:  KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL 
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VZCZCXRO2806
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHBS #1347 2790650
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 060650Z OCT 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9532
RUEAUSA/HHS WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001347 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: SECOND BELGIUM DEATH FROM A/H1N1 PANDEMIC FLU

REF: A.BRUSSELS 1170, B. BRUSSELS 1055

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001347

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: SECOND BELGIUM DEATH FROM A/H1N1 PANDEMIC FLU

REF: A.BRUSSELS 1170, B. BRUSSELS 1055


1. (U) On October 1, the Government of Belgium's Interministerial
Influenza Commission announced that a 44-year woman from Hainaut
province (in the southern region of Wallonia) died that day
following
an infection from the A/H1N1 pandemic virus, and thus became the
second patient in Belgium to die as a result of the virus since the

pandemic hit Belgium. The woman, who had no known risk factors to
the virus, exhibited the first signs of flu symptoms on September

11.
Within a few days, her conditions grew worse, and she was admitted
to
the hospital on September 14 with signs of severe respiratory
distress, and immediately was placed on an artificial respirator.
The diagnosis of the H1N1 flu was confirmed by the hospital on
September 16. Her clinical condition did not improve and, as noted,

she died on October 1, 2009. Belgium's first H1N1-related death was

that of a 34-year old woman from Antwerp who passed away on July 30,

2009 (ref B).


2. (U) Belgian health authorities also announced on October 1 an
estimated 1873 new cases of H1N1 in Belgium, based on extrapolations

of cases of 6,633 patients who had visited the approximately 180
doctors who comprise the country's H1N1 network that is the basis
for
the extrapolation. Authorities estimate a total of 8,597 persons
have been infected since the outbreak began in Belgium at the end of

April, with the two deaths linked to H1N1. The government's
announcement also indicated that authorities consider that the
spread
of the H1N1 virus is relatively moderate and within seasonal norms,

even though the number of reported cases doubled in the most recent

week (week 39, from Sept 21-27) compared to week 38.

GUTMAN