UNCLAS HONG KONG 001109

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR OES/IHB AMBASSADOR LOFTIS, DEPT FOR EAP/CM, DEPT
FOR CA/OCS/EAP, DEPT FOR M/PRI, DEPT FOR SES-O, HHS FOR
OGHA, CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID AND COGH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMED AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC KFLO KFLU KPA KSAF
MG, PINR, PREL, TBIO, HK, CH
SUBJECT: HK H1N1 UPDATE - LOCAL TRANSMISSION TAKES ROOT,
MACAU HOSTS AIR TRAVEL AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE CONFERENCE

REF: HONG KONG 1065


1. Summary: H1N1 cases in Hong Kong continue to increase,
including new community transmissions, despite school
closures. Four secondary schools have now been closed,
joining all nursery, kindergarten and primary schools in Hong
Kong. Additional secondary schools will be closed as
outbreaks occur. The shift to additional community
transmission is forcing the Hong Kong Government (HKG) to
abandon efforts to contain the virus and move toward a
mitigation strategy. Macau authorities released four AmCits
from quarantine after they arrived in Hong Kong on a plane
with an infected passenger. None tested positive for H1N1.
Macau hosted the third Asian Steering Committee for the
Cooperative Arrangement for Preventing the Spread of
Communicable Diseases Through Air Travel (CAPSCA), June
12-13, where World Health Organization (WHO) representatives
defended WHO's decision not to mandate H1N1 border screening.
End Summary.


2. The number of confirmed H1N1 cases in Hong Kong continues
to increase, with the HKG announcing a total of 118
infections on June 16. The community transmission rate
continues to increase as well, with 9 of 14 newly identified
cases resulting from local contact rather than international
travel.


3. School closures (Reftel) have not been completely
effective at stopping the community spread of H1N1 in Hong
Kong. Three additional secondary schools, including the
Australian International School, were ordered closed June
16-17 due to outbreaks. 27 of the H1N1 cases in Hong Kong
occurred among student populations of the now-closed schools,
including 22 cases at St. Paul's Convent School, the site of
the original school outbreak. The HKG continues to monitor
the situation and can be expected to continue closing
secondary schools on a case-by-case basis as outbreaks occur.


4. The Hospital Authority announced June 16 that they will
no longer admit all suspected H1N1 cases to hospitals for
testing and observation. Instead, suspected cases will be
identified and tested at one of the HKG-operated flu clinics,
provided with Tamiflu and sent home. Those individuals who
test positive for H1N1 will be contacted and asked to report
to a hospital for treatment and isolation. This new policy
is a result of the HKG decision to move from a "containment"
strategy to embracing a "mitigation" strategy for handling
the outbreak.

Macau Quarantines AmCits, Hosts CAPSCA
--------------


5. Macau health authorities released four AmCits on June 16
who had been quarantined in Macau since June 8-9. The four
arrived in Macau from Hong Kong and had been identified as
sitting near H1N1-infected passengers on their flights to
Hong Kong. None developed symptoms of H1N1. Four other
AmCits are currently quarantined in Macau.


6. Macau hosted the third Asian Steering Committee for
CAPSCA, June 12-13. Attendees included participating member
and observer country delegations, international
organizations, non-governmental organizations and aviation
industry representatives. Initiated by the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2006, CAPSCA's goal is
to reduce the spread of disease by air travelers through
efforts by member states, air operators and airports. This
conference was held only hours after the WHO's announcement
of the H1N1 Phase 6 Pandemic Alert. Although H1N1 dominated
the CAPSCA agenda, participants were reminded that H5N1
(Avian Influenza) is still "the deadliest viral threat to the
region that requires everyone's commitment and vigilance."


7. Local attendees questioned WHO's decision not to
recommend border screening for H1N1. The WHO representative
defended WHO's decision, particularly regarding the utility
of thermal scanning. According to WHO, these measures are
not effective in preventing H1N1's global spread because some
infected travelers are asymptomatic, yet still contagious.
The WHO representative cited "less than 2% of the 27,737 H1N1
cases, as of June 11" as having been detected by border
screening measures.
MARUT