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