H1N1 FLU ARRIVES IN BANGLADESH VIA PARTICIPANTS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000631 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INSB, SES-O/CMS, OES/IHB NEW DELHI FOR FAS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019 TAGS: KFLU CASC AMED ECON EAGR PREL KPAO TBIO AMGT TF, BG SUBJECT: H1N1 FLU ARRIVES IN BANGLADESH VIA PARTICIPANTS IN A USG PROGRAM REF: A. DOHA 397 ¶B. EMBASSY/DEPARTMENT EMAILS 06/19/2009 ¶C. STATE 63491 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Bangladesh has recorded its first cases of H1N1 influenza. A 19-year-old male tested positive for H1N1 June 19 after returning to Bangladesh from a year of high-school study in the United States as part of a USG-sponsored exchange program. Five more students from the same program have since tested positive for H1N1. Another H1N1 patient, an American citizen of Bangladeshi origin, whose illness was detected in Doha (Ref A),has arrived in Bangladesh. Embassy Dhaka's influenza working group plans to release a warden notice informing the American community of the arrival of H1N1 in Bangladesh and urging Americans to follow safe hygiene practices recommended by the USG. Post worries that alleged non-responsiveness of the sponsors of the USG-funded program could fuel allegations that the U.S. is attempting to spread H1N1 to Muslim countries. First H1N1 case arrives from United States -------------- ¶2. (C) A 19-year-old Bangladeshi youth tested positive June 19 for novel H1N1 influenza on his return from the United States (Ref B). He is recovering. The youth was ONE of 28 Bangladeshi high school students participating in the USG's Youth Exchange Study (YES) program for teenagers from Muslim nations. Four of these students displayed flu-like symptoms during their flight home from the United States; they were off-loaded in Dubai, screened and then sent on to Dhaka. Twelve other students from the same group displayed flu-like symptoms after returning to Dhaka and have been tested for H1N1. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported June 24 that five of these students tested positive for H1N1. These students were probably exposed to H1N1 during a three-day outgoing orientation for YES students hosted by the USG in Washington, DC, June 10-13. ¶3. (C) Bangladeshi HEALTH authorities have worked closely with Embassy Dhaka to test, monitor and advise the YES students and their families. After confirming the five additional cases, authorities quarantined the 28 students at home. Local authorities also have worked hard to protect the privacy of the patients and their families, both to preserve medical confidentiality and to protect against stigma. The CDC reported that the American citizen toddler en route to Bangladesh who was stopped in Doha and tested positive for H1N1 (Ref A) had returned to Bangladesh with his parents, who were Bangladeshi nationals and U.S. Legal Permanent Residents. Bangladesh positioned to detect further cases -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The CDC also reported that Bangladesh HEALTH officials had followed international protocols with regard to handling their first H1N1 cases, including notifying the World HEALTH Organization. Bangladesh has two laboratories capable of conducting H1N1 tests. The International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research (ICDDR,B),in collaboration with the CDC and the Government of Bangladesh (GOB),is conducting active surveillance in 12 hospitals around the country. ICDDR,B also is conducting population-based surveys of 25,000 residenQn Dhaka. Embassy Dhaka reviews preparedness -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Embassy's influenza working group met June 22 to review contingency plans in light of these developments. Our Regional Medical Officer reported that the Mission's Health Unit had 1,300 courses of Tamiflu in stock, in addition to a significant quantity of personal protective equipment like masks, gloves and gowns. The HEALTH Unit has recently recorded five cases of H3 seasonal flu among the official American community; all patients have recovered and have not spread flu to members of their families. The working group's medical professionals observed that summer was flu season in Bangladesh, so it would not be unusual to DHAKA 00000631 002 OF 002 see an increase in the number of influenza cases reported here. They also noted that Bangladesh, with its densely packed, poorly nourished and impoverished population, faced grave risks from H1N1 and other infectious diseases. ¶6. (SBU) Given that the current strain of H1N1 has demonstrated a lower fatality rate than originally feared and that the majority of infected individuals have uncomplicated recovery, the working group agreed to maintain its current stance of preparedness for an outbreak in Bangladesh. The working group agreed the Mission should issue a warden notice to the American community in follow-up toQrevious warden message and community HEALTH practices education. It will inform Americans about the first Bangladesh cases and remind Americans to follow safe hygiene practices to prevent the spread of flu and other diseases. On-going communication continues among ex-patriate and local HEALTH care providers in Dhaka to coordinate possible large-scale response to a pandemic should the need arise. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) The GOB has responded well to the arrival of H1N1 by following international HEALTH regulations and working closely with Mission Dhaka. Embassy working group members expressed deep concern that Bangladesh's first cases involved patients who contracted the illness after participating in a USG-sponsored program. ONE of the YES students informed GOB officials that many YES students were sick during the outgoing orientation in Washington. The student alleged that instead of getting appropriate treatment, the sick students were sent on to their respective countries. Given that numerous YES students from several countres have contracted H1N1 (Ref C) and that the YES program benefits youth from Muslim countries, there is a risk that extremists or conspiracy theorists could try to claim the USG deliberately exposed Muslim youth to a pandemic disease. MORIARTY