Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HAVANA269
2009-05-12 19:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  KFLU ASEC TF ECON CU 
pdf how-to read a cable
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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
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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

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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