MGSF01: BELGIUM: H1N1 FLU: MORE POSSIBLE CASES

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000627 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SWINE FLU MONITORING GROUP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR, AMGT, MG, BE SUBJECT: MGSF01: BELGIUM: H1N1 FLU: MORE POSSIBLE CASES AWAITING TEST RESULTS; GOVERNMENT MODIFIES TRAVEL ADVISORY TO UNITED STATES REF: BRUSSELS 609 ¶1. (U) Belgium's Interministerial Influenza Commission (IIC) in a statement posted late April 29 to its website, www.influenza.be, announced that four of seven additional suspected cases of H1N1 from April 28 had tested negative, with results pending for the other three, while an additional four new cases from April 29 were also being tested. Results for the seven pending cases could be announced April 30; they are being tested at a facility in Brussels. Health authorities have started daily late afternoon press briefings on the domestic and international status of H1N1. The swine flu alert alerting travelers to H1N1 symptoms on the website (www.brusselsairport.be) of Belgium's main international airport, Zaventem, was unchanged from that posted April 28. The IIC announced April 29 that the brochure being handed out to travelers at the airport has now been translated into Spanish and Arabic, joining Dutch, French, German and English language versions prepared earlier in the week. ¶2. (U) The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has modified its travel advisory for the United States, available on its website, www.diplomatie.be. As of midday April 30, it tells travelers that a human strain of swine flu has appeared in the United States, and advises travelers to be aware of the risks involved if traveling to affected areas. As a result, travelers are strongly advised to inform themselves before and during any travel to risk zones, and to be aware of necessary precautions. The site also provides a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov. The advisory goes on to say that if travelers do go to an affected area in the United States, they should follow certain sanitary and hygienic guidelines, such as carefully and regularly washing hands, avoiding contact with infected persons, avoid certain public gatherings such as entertainment halls and museums, and consulting a doctor if they believe they may have flu symptoms. Travelers returning from the United States should ensure they follow recommendations of local health authorities, and should immediately consult their local doctor if they begin to have flu symptoms within seven days of returning home. The MFA website as of April 30 advises travelers to postpone non-essential travel to Mexico. ¶3. (U) Belgian health authorities have also posted guidance for local doctors to help determine whether they are facing a case of H1N1, on www.influenza.be. BUSH .