MGSF01: BELGIUM: TWO POSITIVE CASES OF H1N1 IN

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000694 SIPDIS STATE FOR H1N1 MONITORING GROUP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR KFLU ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR, AMGT, BE SUBJECT: MGSF01: BELGIUM: TWO POSITIVE CASES OF H1N1 IN TRAVELERS RETURNING FROM UNITED STATES REF: A. BRUSSELS 627 ¶B. BRUSSELS 609 Summary -------------- ¶1. Belgium has two confirmed cases of H1N1, the Government announcing a first case on May 13 and a second on May 14. Both individuals were males from the region of Flanders who had returned separately from the United States. Both men are being treated at Brussels' Saint Pierre University Hospital, and a Public Health Service physician has contacted individuals who came into contact with both men since their return and provided Tamiflu treatment for those who had close contact, while others who had less close contact were asked to monitor their health and be on the watch for any symptoms. Three of those individuals with whom one of the men had close contact have been asked to remain at home for seven days and closely monitor their symptoms. A contact at the Government's Influenza Call Center told Econoff May 15 that the Government at present has made no other changes to its existing methodology for dealing with H1N1. Test results are pending for six other persons. End summary. First Two Positive Cases in Belgium -------------- ¶2. The Government's Interministerial Influenza Commission (IIC) disclosed in a May 14 press communique that a 23-year male from Antwerp province tested positive for H1N1. The man had returned May 11 on a direct flight from New York following a 10-day trip to the United States, where he spent five days in the Los Angeles region and five days in New York City. During the night of May 12, the man had symptoms of nausea and vomiting. On May 13 he began coughing, had muscle pain and a light fever (below 38 C). That night he went to an emergency room, where the attending physician decided to test him for H1N1. The patient returned home where he was quarantined. Once his positive test results were known, he was transferred to Brussels' Saint Pierre hospital, which is the primary designated hospital to deal with H1N1. As a precautionary measure, health authorities contacted the fifteen people the patient had been in contact with and they have begun Tamiflu treatment, according to the Influenza Call Center. ¶3. On May 13, a 28-year old man from Ghent, in the Flanders region, was also taken to Saint Pierre Hospital after he tested positive for H1N1. He had been to New York and Chicago, returning to Belgium on May 11. Three persons who had very close contact with him are being treated (presumably also with Tamiflu although the press release did not specify),and are to remain at home for seven days and pay close attention to their symptoms. Three other persons with whom the patient had less close contact have been advised to monitor their symptoms and alert health authorities if they show any flu symptoms. To date they have not shown any symptoms. ¶4. Health authorities are waiting for test results on six other cases. Updated Travel Information for the United States -------------- --- ¶5. The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has updated its website guidance for travelers to the United States. As of May 14, it strongly urges any travelers to affected areas in the United States to make themselves aware before and during travel about risk zones and necessary precautions to take, and to be aware of the risks linked to the H1N1 virus. Possible symptoms are listed and travelers are urged to contact their doctor if they present any of the symptoms in the seven days following their return to Belgium. BUSH .