INDONESIA: UNREPORTED RECENT AI CASES

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000263


AIDAC

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG AND OES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018
TAGS: TBIO KFLU AMED EAGR PREL WHO ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA: UNREPORTED RECENT AI CASES

REF: 08 JAKARTA 2208

Classified By: Economic Counselor Peter Haas, Reasons 1.4 b,d,e.


1. (C) Although the World Health Organization's official
website as updated on February 11 reflects no Indonesian
confirmed human avian influenza cases for 2009, local WHO
authorities have confided that Indonesian laboratories have
confirmed four cases in January. The Ministry of Health
notified WHO Jakarta by letter but has not authorized WHO to
post the results until the Ministry makes a public
announcement. Local WHO authorities declined to provide
details, noting their agreement with the Ministry prohibits
them from doing so.


2. (C) The four confirmed cases include two from Bogor
(involving siblings),one from Surabaya and one from West
Java. All four cases were fatal. Indonesian press have run
stories about the Bogor cases and noted that a third family
member is experiencing similar symptoms. Indonesian press is
also noting a possible human case in Bali and running
numerous stories about avian influenza outbreaks in poultry
populations.


3. (C) In addition to the four confirmed cases, contacts
within the Ministry of Health have noted that Indonesian
health laboratories are evaluating up to four additional
suspect cases.


4. (C) Note: Data from the past three years suggest that
Indonesia's human AI cases and poultry outbreaks follow
seasonal cycles, with cases increasing during rainy season
months, roughly January through March. However, experts also
believe that current Indonesian cases are underreported due
to a deteriorating health surveillance network and less
frequent testing.


HUME