UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000728

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/IHB
STATE PASS USTR JANE DOHERTY
STATE PASS USAID
STATE PASS HHS/NIH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO
PREL, PINR, AMGT, TF, BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: H1N1: SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH
CONFIRMED CASES, ALL MILD

REF: BRUSSELS 700


1. Belgian health authorities announced via a May 26 press
release that an eighth positive case of H1N1 in Belgium has
occurred, involving a young man from Brussels who had
returned to Belgium on May 24 from a New York-Paris flight,
taking the TGV high-speed train from Paris to Brussels. The
man contacted his doctor on May 25 complaining of not feeling
well. His doctor noted the man's symptoms -- fever, cough
and muscle pain -- and after consulting with a public health
official, the man was tested for H1N1, and on May 26 the
positive test result was received and the patient was
transferred to Brussels' Saint Pierre's hospital, as were all
previous H1N1 patients. His condition was described as not
worrying in the press release announcing the case. The man
had not left his home following his return from New York.
The three persons with whom he had close contact have started
a preventative treatment of antiviral medication and are
avoiding contact with others. The press release indicated
that French authorities have asked the airline in question
for a list of passengers on the flight from New York to
Paris, and that persons who could have been exposed to the
virus during the flight or the train to Brussels will be
contacted.


2. Last week, Belgian health authorities announced via
separate press releases on May 21 that the sixth and seventh
confirmed cases of H1N1 had been found in the country. The
sixth case involves a female from the French-speaking
province of Brabant in the Wallonia region who had returned
March 19 via a flight from Newark after spending one week on
the East Coast of the United States; the seventh case
involves a male from Antwerp province who returned to Belgium
on May 20 via a Chicago flight. Both individuals are
currently at Brussel's Saint Pierre hospital in a special
ward for H1N1 patients; the authorities described both cases
as mild and both patients are expected to recover.


3. The woman from Brabant stayed home on May 19 following
her return from the United States. On May 20, she called her
doctor to report flu-like symptoms. She was tested and kept
isolated at home pending the results. She was transferred to
Saint Pierre's hospital following her positive test result.
Three persons with whom she had close contact are being
treated with anti-viral medications. Authorities have asked
for the list of passengers on the woman's flight from Newark
and those passengers whom authorities believe could have been
exposed to the virus during the flight will be contacted by
health authorities. If some of those passengers are not
Belgian residents, health authorities of their country of
residence will be notified.


4. The man from Antwerp contacted his doctor following his
return from Chicago, complaining of feeling unwell and sore
joints, but otherwise without influenza symptoms. On the
evening of May 20, he began to have a fever, light cough and
muscle soreness. He went to an emergency room on May 21 and
following a positive test for H1N1, was transferred to Saint
Pierre's. Thirteen (13) people with whom he had had close
contact since his return are being treated with anti-viral
medicine. Authorities have asked for the list of passengers
on the man's flight from Newark and those passengers whom
authorities believe could have been exposed to the virus
during the flight will be contacted by health authorities.
If some of those passengers are not Belgian residents, health
authorities of their country of residence will be notified.


5. Belgian health authorities announced in a May 24 press
release that the first five positive H1N1 cases have been
released recently from Saint Pierre's hospital, no longer
contagious, and while patients six and seven are still in
Saint Pierre's, their condition is not worrisome. The eighth
patient was of course not mentioned as he arrived at Saint
Pierre's after the May 24 press release.
BUSH
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