AUSTRALIA H1N1 SITREP JULY 24, 2009

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000678 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/IHB, AIAG FOR WINN; STATE PLEASE PASS DHHS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR, AMGT, MG, AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA H1N1 SITREP JULY 24, 2009 REF: A. SECSTATE 42324 ¶B. SECSTATE 41745 ¶C. CANBERRA 415 ¶D. CANBERRA 419 ¶E. CANBERRA 464 ¶F. CANBERRA 518 ¶G. CANBERRA 570 ¶H. CANBERRA 649 ¶1. (SBU) The following is the latest SITREP covering Australia's response to the H1N1 pandemic. ¶2. (SBU) Government Response: The Government of Australia, and all jurisdictions, remain in PROTECT phase of the Australia Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza. Concern over vulnerability in remote and indigenous populations has led Queensland government to implement a modified CONTAIN and PROTECT effort to prevent spread of the disease to more isolated populations in the far north where ongoing transmission of the virus has not been detected. Trials of an H1N1 vaccine began in Australia on July 21. The vaccine, developed by CSL, is being trialed on 240 volunteers at Royal Adelaide hospital. The GOA has placed an order with CSL for 21 million vaccine courses. ¶3. (SBU) Case Count: As of July 24, Australia has 16,567 confirmed H1N1 cases. There have been 46 deaths associated with H1N1 since the outbreak began. There have been 1876 persons hospitalized since the beginning of the H1N1 outbreak. ¶4. (SBU) Consular Issues: As of July 24, there are no reported ACS issues involving H1N1. CLUNE