Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DILI201
2009-08-11 11:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dili
Cable title:  

TIMOR CONFIRMS FIRST TWO CASES OF SWINE FLU

Tags:  PGOV ECON SOCI TT 
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VZCZCXRO9463
RR RUEHCHI RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHDT #0201 2231100
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111100Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4484
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1306
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 1141
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA 0002
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 4021
UNCLAS DILI 000201 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI TT
SUBJECT: TIMOR CONFIRMS FIRST TWO CASES OF SWINE FLU

UNCLAS DILI 000201

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI TT
SUBJECT: TIMOR CONFIRMS FIRST TWO CASES OF SWINE FLU


1. Doctors at Timor's National Hospital confirmed the country's
first two cases of H1N1 swine flu on August 10. The two
patients -- one an Australian, the other Indian -- were held in
an isolation area at the hospital while medical samples were
forwarded to Australia for testing. The hospital provided a
course of Tamiflu treatment. Both patients have already
recovered and been released from the hospital. Timorese health
officials monitored 17 other suspected H1N1 patients since May
but none tested positive for the virus.




2. The Timorese Government established a H1N1 task force to
coordinate its response to swine flu infections. The Ministry
of Health is providing expanded screening of passengers arriving
at Dili's airport and distributing information regarding the
H1N1 virus. The Government briefed local health care providers
and NGOs at an H1N1 conference last week, requesting assistance
in identifying possible swine flu cases.




3. COMMENT: Timor's health care system is rudimentary at best.
Its best defense against a possible swine flu outbreak is early
detection and isolation. It is taking those steps but would
likely require outside assistance if the number of cases rises
dramatically. END COMMENT.

HENICK