Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS1576
2009-11-24 12:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

BELGIUM: H1N1 REPORT FOR NOV 9-15: NUMBER OF ESTIMATED

Tags:  KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL 
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VZCZCXRO7009
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHBS #1576 3281243
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241243Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9720
RUEAUSA/HHS WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001576 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: H1N1 REPORT FOR NOV 9-15: NUMBER OF ESTIMATED
CASES FALLS AGAIN; ONE ADDITIONAL DEATH BRINGS TOTAL TO TWELVE

REF: BRUSSELS 1526

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001576

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: H1N1 REPORT FOR NOV 9-15: NUMBER OF ESTIMATED
CASES FALLS AGAIN; ONE ADDITIONAL DEATH BRINGS TOTAL TO TWELVE

REF: BRUSSELS 1526


1. For the second week in a row, the number of estimated H1N1 cases
in Belgium fell significantly, to 17,850 from November 9 to 15 (week
46),from 33,584 the previous week, according to a November 19 press
release by the Government of Belgium's Interministerial Influenza
Commission (IIC). One death was reported in week 46, bringing the
total of H1N1-related fatalities in Belgium since the outbreak began
in April 2009 to 12. The country's vaccination program for health
care and education workers and members of risk-groups continues,
with approximately 1,944,000 doses of Pandemrix vaccine so far
having been delivered to general practitioners and healthcare
institutions via pharmacies; 329,285 vaccinations have been
registered in the electronic tracking system.


2. While indicating it would be premature to draw conclusions from
the latest results, the IIC did say in its press release that the
transmission of the H1N1 virus has fallen at least for now. Since
the start of the H1N1 virus pandemic in April 2009, 173,758 people
have been contaminated by H1N1 in Belgium.


3. BELGIAN H1N1 CASES (ESTIMATED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED*)
--------------


WEEK DATE NUMBER CASES CUMULATIVE
NUMBER CASES
-------------- --------------

46 NOV 9-NOV 15 17,850 173,758
45 NOV 2-NOV 8 33,584 155,908
44 OCT 26-NOV 1 47,170 122,324
43 OCT 19-25 39,053 75,154
42 OCT 12-18 16,167 36,101
41 OCT 5-11 7,477 19,934
40 SEP 28-OCT 4 3,997 12,457
39 SEP 21-27 1,753 8,460
38 SEP 14-20 911 6,707
37 SEP 7-13 462 5,796
36 AUG 31-SEP 6 402 5,334
35 AUG 24-30 539 4,932
34 AUG 17-23 966 4,393
33 AUG 10-16 995 3,427
32 AUG 3-9 687 2,432
31 JUL 27-AUG 2 851 1,745
30 JUL 20-26 507 894
29 JUL 13-19 387 387

APR 27-JUL12 126*

(source: Belgian Scientific Institute Public Health, Brussels)

*total of individuals testing positive during that period

(Note: Belgium ceased individual testing for H1N1 in mid-July 2009,
and since then has used extrapolations from a system relying on data
based on cases of patients who visit the approximately 180 doctors
who make up the so-called national H1N1 network. Note also that
sometimes in the weekly reports from the BSIPH that historical data
from previous weeks reflected in the above table sometimes are
changed, reflecting adjustments/corrections.)

GUTMAN