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. JAKENNY RWERDMAN KENNY