MGSF01: BELGIUM: THREE MORE POSITIVE TESTS BRING

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000700 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: THREE MORE POSITIVE TESTS BRING TOTAL PROVED H1N1 CASES TO FIVE REF: BRUSSELS 694 ¶1. Belgium now has five confirmed cases of H1N1, with Belgian health authorities announcing cases three and four late on Friday, May 15, and a fifth case on May 16. All three individuals had had close contact with a male who had recently returned to Belgium from New York. Health authorities have quarantined all five patients at Brussels' Saint Pierre University Hospital. Authorities also reported eight negative test results for H1N1 n May 17. ¶2. The Government's Interministerial Influenza Commission (IIC) disclosed in May 15 and 16 press communiques that three new cases had been discovered, with all three having had close contact with a Belgian who had stated to feel ill after having returned from a trip to New York. The three were transferre to Brussels' Saint Pierre hospital, the country's primary designated hospital to deal with H1N1, and along with the first two patients, are receiving treatment and expected to make a full recovery. BUSH .