H1N1 OUTBREAK SHUTS DOWN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO

UNCLAS CAIRO 001046 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AIAG (AMBASSADOR LOTFIS AND DAVID WINN),CA/ACS, NEA/ELA DEPT PASS TO AID (DENNIS CARROLL) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH PGOV KSCA EAGR CASC PREL EG SUBJECT: H1N1 OUTBREAK SHUTS DOWN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle accordingly. 1.(SBU): The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced yesterday, June 8th, that two American students enrolled in summer courses at the American University in Cairo (AUC) tested positive for the H1N1 virus. The students, who arrived on different flights but were living in the same AUC dormitory, were subsequently hospitalized, treated and quarantined at a local hospital. They are recuperating in a dedicated H1N1 ward and expected to be released in the next 48 hours. ¶2. (SBU) The MOH yesterday placed the dormitory under quarantine. As a result of the two confirmed cases and acting on the recommendation of the MOH, AUC suspended all classes until Sunday, June 14th. The commanding officer for NAMRU-3 has made repeated visits to the dormitory and spoken in person to quarantined students over the last two days. ¶3. (SBU) Five more confirmed H1N1 cases from the dormitory were reported today by Health Minister Hatem El-Gabaly. According to the MOH, the five students are hospitalized and in stable condition. The additional cases were discovered after the MOH tested all residents at the dormitory. All other dorm residents and staff tested negative for the H1N1 virus, have been placed on prophylaxis and the quarantine extended to not later than June 15th. Scobey