Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS627
2009-04-30 16:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

MGSF01: BELGIUM: H1N1 FLU: MORE POSSIBLE CASES

Tags:  KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL 
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VZCZCXRO3606
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBS #0627 1201607
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301607Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8887
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 0329
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

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

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