Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DHAHRAN124
2009-06-07 15:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Dhahran
Cable title:  

CASE OF H1N1 CONFIRMED IN DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA

Tags:  KFLU TBIO CASC SA 
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O 071547Z JUN 09
FM AMCONSUL DHAHRAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0159
CDC ATLANTA GA IMMEDIATE 0001
INFO GCC C COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY RIYADH IMMEDIATE 
AMCONSUL JEDDAH IMMEDIATE 
AMCONSUL DHAHRAN
UNCLAS DHAHRAN 000124 


DEPARTMENT FOR OPS CENTER

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, OES/UHB, MED

DPEARTMENT FOR CA/OSC/ACS/NESCA - E.STOTT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO CASC SA
SUBJECT: CASE OF H1N1 CONFIRMED IN DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA

UNCLAS DHAHRAN 000124


DEPARTMENT FOR OPS CENTER

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, OES/UHB, MED

DPEARTMENT FOR CA/OSC/ACS/NESCA - E.STOTT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO CASC SA
SUBJECT: CASE OF H1N1 CONFIRMED IN DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA


1. Consular Chief received a call from Emir Prince Mohammed's
Chief of Staff Hussan AlJasser at around 11:30 this morning
asking us to receive a five-member team from the Ministry of
Health. The team, it was explained, was on the way to the
Consulate as they had reports that a Saudi, Qutaibah Feher S.
Al-Sharif, age 22, with a confirmed case of the H1N1 virus was
in the Consulate applying for a visa. The Ministry of Health
was concerned about the virus infecting Consulate employees.


2. It was quickly determined that applicant was still in the
waiting room and had not been interviewed. Consular section
staff handed out face masks and alcohol wipes to the remaining
four applicants, local guard, and a FedEx employee in waiting
room as the team from the Min. of Health arrived.


3. The team doctor, Dr. Waheeb Al-Jazar, spoke with the
consular chief, consulate nurse, and waiting room, and gave
further details as to why they were here. The team first
examined the infected applicant, gave him a face mask and
escorted him out. He was taken to the Dammam Central Hospital
where the team doctor informed us he would be kept under
quarantine for at least five days. The team then swabbed
everyone in the waiting room, as noted above, as well as
consular section staff.


4. Consulate took the following actions/responses:

-- Consulate nurse contacted Regional Medical Officer in Riyadh.
Her mobile phone was passed to Dr. Al-Jazar in the waiting
room in order for them to converse.

-- Consular Chief spoke with RMO afterwards and was told that
since test results from swabs were going to be available in 24
hours, this indicated the lab tests were only for the common
Influenza A and B viruses, and not the H1N1 "sub-virus."

-- A/RSO called the State Operations Center and spoke with M and
MED, informing them we had a Saudi national in the consular
waiting room with a "suspected" case of the H1N1 virus.

-- The American Citizens Services unit was closed for the
afternoon. The guards at the Pedestrian Access Control (PAC)
will be monitored and swabbed at a later time, if necessary.

-- Consular Nurse and Management Assistant assisted and oversaw
char force in Consular waiting room to ensure all areas were
cleaned with bleach water.


5. Visa applicant with the confirmed case of the H1N1 virus was
a returning student from the Catholic University of America in
Washington, D.C. He arrived in Kingdom on a flight into Jeddah
with an unknown point of origin or transit. Applicant was swab
tested for the H1N1 virus after being detected with temperature
sensors at airport upon arrival. We are continuing to try and
contact the Ministry of Health to find out flight information.


6. Recommendation:

Department may wish to contact Catholic University officials
with the student's name and medical condition to determine if
others in the university community were exposed. We will
continue to monitor consulate staff in the days to come.


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