Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CANBERRA812
2009-09-04 07:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIA H1N1 SITREP SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000812
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 SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
REF: A. SECSTATE 42324
B. SECSTATE 41745
C. CANBERRA 678 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000812
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 SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
REF: A. SECSTATE 42324
B. SECSTATE 41745
C. CANBERRA 678 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) The following is the latest SITREP covering
Australia's response to the H1N1 outbreak. Australian
government response remains unchanged since June 17. Most
deaths in Australia continue to occur in patients with
underlying medical conditions. New South Wales Health
reported that the major risk factors in patients admitted to
intensive care with H1N1 have been predominantly chronic lung
disease, diabetes, morbid obesity, chronic heart failure, and
pregnancy. Overall presentations of influenza-like illnesses
(ILIs) continued to fall in NSW and Queensland. The Western
Australia government announced that it was beginning to
stockpile initial doses of the 2 million doses of H1N1
vaccine manufactured so far in Australia. WA health
authorities will reportedly limit distribution of 200,000
initial doses of vaccine to pregnant women, those with
underlying conditions, and aboriginal communities.
Currently, all vaccine produced by CSL, Australia's largest
manufacturer, remains the property of the company while
stocks are pre-positioned in several states. No vaccine has
been released for use as of September 4.
Fear and Insurance Issues
--------------
2. (SBU) H1N1 vaccine human trials are coming to a
conclusion, but the GOA has not released a final finding on
any trial. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
reportedly met with CSL to discuss trial results in 240
adults who received the vaccine in Adelaide. Results on
child testing will not be available for another month. Media
reports indicate that the government has agreed, through the
Department of Health and Ageing, to issue special consent
forms to use should the vaccine not be fully registered as a
medicine by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) soon
enough to be of use against the virus. This consent form
would allow the vaccine to be used on those willing to sign
it if concerns over safety were considered to be answered,
but the TGA had not yet registered the vaccine. The
Australian Medical Association (AMA) reportedly indicated
that the Australian national health care system, Medicare,
will compensate practitioners administering the vaccine.
Press reports further indicated that the Medical Insurance
Group Australia (MIGA) had joined other major medical
insurers in indemnifying its members who administer a
vaccine. Questions in the media about the use of adjuvants
like thimerosal have raised some public concerns about the
pace, scale of testing, and overall safety of H1N1 vaccines.
Chief Medical Officer Jim Bishop told media on August 28 that
he expected the H1N1 vaccine would be available for use
around Australia by October.
3. (SBU) Econoff spoke with National Incident Room head Gary
Lum on September 4. Lum was careful not to confirm
QLum on September 4. Lum was careful not to confirm
information in press reports, but told econoff that the GOA
and DOHA are working hard to ensure that concerns raised in
the past two weeks about vaccine safety, efficacy, and
liability "don't come to fruition." DOHA is being very
careful not to portray speculation about actions by insurers,
doctors, or medical groups as reflecting GOA policy. Lum,
who also heads DOHA's Health Emergency Management Branch, is
traveling to the U.S. to participate in discussions of
chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological threat
response with Department of Homeland Security and Canadian
authorities in the last two weeks of September. After-action
review of H1N1 response will be part of those discussions,
Lum said.
CANBERRA 00000812 002 OF 002
Case Numbers Still Growing
--------------
4. (SBU) Case Count: Australia has confirmed a total of
35,444 pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza cases since the first
detection in Australia. There have been 4548
hospitalizations and 161 deaths attributed to the pandemic.
Australia's influenza tracking reports have not been updated
since July 24, but indicate that at that point, H1N1 was
approximately 80 percent of all influenza virus confirmed in
Australia.
5. (SBU) Post Actions: Post continues to monitor the H1N1
situation in Australia.
6. (SBU) Consular Issues: As of September 4, there are no
reported consular issues involving H1N1.
CLUNE
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 SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
REF: A. SECSTATE 42324
B. SECSTATE 41745
C. CANBERRA 678 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) The following is the latest SITREP covering
Australia's response to the H1N1 outbreak. Australian
government response remains unchanged since June 17. Most
deaths in Australia continue to occur in patients with
underlying medical conditions. New South Wales Health
reported that the major risk factors in patients admitted to
intensive care with H1N1 have been predominantly chronic lung
disease, diabetes, morbid obesity, chronic heart failure, and
pregnancy. Overall presentations of influenza-like illnesses
(ILIs) continued to fall in NSW and Queensland. The Western
Australia government announced that it was beginning to
stockpile initial doses of the 2 million doses of H1N1
vaccine manufactured so far in Australia. WA health
authorities will reportedly limit distribution of 200,000
initial doses of vaccine to pregnant women, those with
underlying conditions, and aboriginal communities.
Currently, all vaccine produced by CSL, Australia's largest
manufacturer, remains the property of the company while
stocks are pre-positioned in several states. No vaccine has
been released for use as of September 4.
Fear and Insurance Issues
--------------
2. (SBU) H1N1 vaccine human trials are coming to a
conclusion, but the GOA has not released a final finding on
any trial. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
reportedly met with CSL to discuss trial results in 240
adults who received the vaccine in Adelaide. Results on
child testing will not be available for another month. Media
reports indicate that the government has agreed, through the
Department of Health and Ageing, to issue special consent
forms to use should the vaccine not be fully registered as a
medicine by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) soon
enough to be of use against the virus. This consent form
would allow the vaccine to be used on those willing to sign
it if concerns over safety were considered to be answered,
but the TGA had not yet registered the vaccine. The
Australian Medical Association (AMA) reportedly indicated
that the Australian national health care system, Medicare,
will compensate practitioners administering the vaccine.
Press reports further indicated that the Medical Insurance
Group Australia (MIGA) had joined other major medical
insurers in indemnifying its members who administer a
vaccine. Questions in the media about the use of adjuvants
like thimerosal have raised some public concerns about the
pace, scale of testing, and overall safety of H1N1 vaccines.
Chief Medical Officer Jim Bishop told media on August 28 that
he expected the H1N1 vaccine would be available for use
around Australia by October.
3. (SBU) Econoff spoke with National Incident Room head Gary
Lum on September 4. Lum was careful not to confirm
QLum on September 4. Lum was careful not to confirm
information in press reports, but told econoff that the GOA
and DOHA are working hard to ensure that concerns raised in
the past two weeks about vaccine safety, efficacy, and
liability "don't come to fruition." DOHA is being very
careful not to portray speculation about actions by insurers,
doctors, or medical groups as reflecting GOA policy. Lum,
who also heads DOHA's Health Emergency Management Branch, is
traveling to the U.S. to participate in discussions of
chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological threat
response with Department of Homeland Security and Canadian
authorities in the last two weeks of September. After-action
review of H1N1 response will be part of those discussions,
Lum said.
CANBERRA 00000812 002 OF 002
Case Numbers Still Growing
--------------
4. (SBU) Case Count: Australia has confirmed a total of
35,444 pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza cases since the first
detection in Australia. There have been 4548
hospitalizations and 161 deaths attributed to the pandemic.
Australia's influenza tracking reports have not been updated
since July 24, but indicate that at that point, H1N1 was
approximately 80 percent of all influenza virus confirmed in
Australia.
5. (SBU) Post Actions: Post continues to monitor the H1N1
situation in Australia.
6. (SBU) Consular Issues: As of September 4, there are no
reported consular issues involving H1N1.
CLUNE