H1N1: FIRST CASE IN CUBA; FIDEL ADMITS NOT PART OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000269 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU ASEC TF ECON CU SUBJECT: H1N1: FIRST CASE IN CUBA; FIDEL ADMITS NOT PART OF CIA PLOT -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. Cuba confirmed its first case of the H1N1 virus in a Mexican medical student who returned to the island days before Cuba became the first country to suspend flights from Mexico on April 29. Fidel Castro defended Cuba's (over) reaction to the outbreak and made a few accusations of his own along the way in response to Mexican President Calderon's statement last week that Cuba's suspension of flights will prevent him from visiting Cuba in the near future as previously intended. The U.S. Interests Section (USINT) remains prepared in case of a further spread of the virus in Cuba. -------------- FIRST CASE - MEXICAN MEDICAL STUDENT -------------- ¶2. The Cuban Ministry of Public Health announced on Tuesday, May 11 the first confirmed case of the H1N1 virus in Cuba. The Cuban Institute of Tropical Medicine confirmed the virus in a Mexican medical student studying in Jaguey Grande, Matanzas (a province just east of Havana) who had returned to Cuba from a vacation in Mexico on or around April 25. He was one of 84 people from eight countries, including 14 Mexican students, who have been identified with possible symptoms. An additional 511 persons have been identified as having had contact with the symptomatic cases. We do not know the nationalities of the other symptomatic cases, nor do we know whether any Cubans were among those tested. The Ministry of Public Health said that out of all these cases, only the one Mexican student has been identified as positive for the H1N1 virus. The Ministry did not report on the well being or whereabouts of the infected student, but assured the public that they have adopted the corresponding measures appropriate for this evolving international situation. ¶3. The Cuban Institute of Civil Aviation had issued an order suspending regular and charter flights operating between Cuba and Mexico as of April 29, a decision that remains in effect with the exception of a few Cubana Airline flights and some flights returning passengers from Cuba to Mexico. All passengers who arrive in the country from any destination are to fill out a Traveler's Health Declaration form. Travelers arriving from Mexico immediately prior to the suspension of flights disembarked at Terminal 2 traditionally used for charter flights from the United States rather than the usual International Terminal. Travelers were greeted by health officials who asked whether they had any symptoms of the disease in the last ten days and whether they had been in contact with anyone infected. Travelers were then asked to fill out the health declaration form and handed a card with information about what to do if they experienced any flu-like symptoms, specifically to present the card to a doctor at one of the points of the National Health System. -------------- FIDEL ON CALDERON AND CIA INVOLVEMENT -------------- ¶4. A few hours after the Ministry of Public Heath announcement, Fidel Castro published a new "Reflecciones" article in which he acknowledged the presence of the virus in Cuba. He added that "the one thing that can be confirmed now is that it was not the CIA that introduced it. It came from Mexico." Castro went on to criticize Mexican President Calderon for "complaining" about Cuba's decision to suspend flights from Mexico. Castro quoted from Calderon's statement last week that Calderon was going to go to Cuba in the coming days or weeks, but since Cuba has cancelled flights from Mexico he won't be able to go. Castro said that the Mexican students are in no way guilty and he referenced last month's final declaration from the Non-Aligned Movement supporting the people and Government of Mexico. Castro said that the Mexican authorities did not inform the world of the presence of the flu virus before President Obama's visit, and now they are threatening to suspend Calderon's trip. Castro added that "at this point, we and dozens of other countries are HAVANA 00000269 002 OF 002 paying the piper and on top of that we are being accused of using harmful measures against Mexico." -------------- USINT PREPARED -------------- ¶5. The U.S. Interests Section has adequate supplies of PPE and anti-viral medications. We have developed trip wires to provide guidance during an influenza pandemic and are in touch with the local offices of the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization. WILLIAMS