ARGENTINA: UPDATE ON H1N1 INFLUENZA

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000908 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/IHB - P. MURPHY AND D. WILUSZ DEPT PLEASE PASS TO CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO SOCI PREL AMED ELAB CASC KIPR AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: UPDATE ON H1N1 INFLUENZA ¶1. As of August 5, Argentina had confirmed 337 deaths due to H1N1 influenza. According to the press, over half these fatalities were in otherwise healthy patients who had no pre-existing chronic conditions or ailments. Tests to determine the cause of an additional 400 deaths are still pending. Dr. Horacio Lopez, Head of Infectious Diseases at the School of Medicine and Medical Advisor to the City of Buenos Aires, told us that the number of new cases appeared to be steadily declining. He did not predict an increase in the number of cases in the following weeks, as some experts had thought as recently as mid-July. Other physicians working closely with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) agree with this assessment. ¶2. Given the unpredictable nature of the disease, however, and contrary to usual seasonal influenza pattern, Dr. Lopez believes that H1N1 cases could continue to occur well into the upcoming spring and summer seasons. Schools opened their doors again on August 3, after a four-week recess that included winter holidays and health prevention closures. With thousands of children now in close proximity to one another, the next few weeks will be a good indicator of the pandemic's staying power in Argentina. The Argentine Ministry of Health (MoH) is appreciative for the continuous presence of physicians from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),who have been in Argentina on a rotating basis for the past several weeks to study the evolution of the outbreak and advise the MoH on its response. ¶3. During the July 24 MERCOSUR Summit in Asuncion, Paraguay, Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner called for the temporary suspension of pharmaceutical patents to allow local manufacturers to produce H1N1 vaccine and to cover the increasing worldwide demand for vaccine. She noted that this technology transfer would be a one-time event, limited in time and scope. Her motion was supported by presidents Tabare Vazquez of Uruguay and Michelle Bachelet of Chile, both physicians by training, and was included in the Summit's final statement. KELLY