MGSF01: INDONESIA REACTS TO KEEP OUT SWINE FLU

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000743 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG, L/DL, EAP/EX, AND OES/IHA USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH DEPT ALSO PASS TO DOJ FOR OFL GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN USDA/FAS/OSTA BRANT, ROSENBLUM USDA/APHIS ANNELLI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR AMGT, EAGR, PGOV, KLIG, MG, ID SUBJECT: MGSF01: INDONESIA REACTS TO KEEP OUT SWINE FLU ¶1. President Yudhoyono convened an emergency cabinet meeting on April 27 and instructed authorities to take immediate measures to prevent the spread of swine flu to Indonesia. Measures include halting imports of pork, expanding the bird flu pandemic preparedness program, and surveillance of the country's pig farms and regions that consume large amounts of pork. In Bali, the animal husbandry agency has begun checking the bio-security systems of local farms and has asked farmers to notify them of any sick pigs. ¶2. Indonesian ports and airports also went on high alert Monday. Health offices at seaports have "reinforced" checks on passengers from abroad. Airport officials report that they have installed thermal scanners to check body temperature at international arrival gates in Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. They say that all incoming passengers must be checked, not just those from Mexico and the U.S. ¶3. Health officials claim that hopsitals are stocked with oseltamivir antiviral drug in order to treat potential infections. The Jakarta Health Agency indicates that the city's community health centers are stocked with the necessary drugs, and urges anyone with flu-like symptoms to seek medical advice immediately. ¶4. Embassy officials are meeting daily with key Indonesians and monitoring Indonesia's precautions closely. HUME