MGSF01: Malaysia Response to H1N1-- End-of-Day Report #2

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SUBJECT: MGSF01: Malaysia Response to H1N1-- End-of-Day Report #2


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The National Influenza Pandemic Planning
Committee (NIPPC) affirmed that no suspected H1N1 cases have been
reported in Malaysia. The Ministry of Health (MOH) reiterated its
travel advisory for Malaysians to postpone unnecessary international
travel, especially to affected countries or areas. Health Minister
Liow Tiong Lai urged the WHO to ban travelers in Mexico from leaving
the country. The Ministry of Health has set up four thermal
scanners at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA),but none
yet at other international ports of entry. So far, only passengers
arriving from the U.S. are being screened, according to a senior MOH
official. The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has halted
issuing permits for pork and pork-related products from the United
States and other "affected" countries until further notice. Foreign
Agricultural Service sent a letter of protest to DVS. We are
coordinating with other "affected" country Embassies regarding a
possible joint approach to the Malaysians. Post convened a town
hall meeting for US and local staff and dependents April 29. We
will hold a town hall for the larger American community on April 30.
END SUMMARY.

GOM Requests WHO Ban Outbound Travel from Mexico
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2. (U) Health Minister Liow announced that the GOM has "spoken to
WHO officials and asked them to stop those in Mexico leaving the
country." In a meeting with MOH Disease Division Director Dr. Hasan
Abdul Rahman, Post learned that the GOM would like the WHO to
recommend that all countries screen departing travelers, not just
from Mexico.

Pork Ban
--------------


3. (SBU) Post's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) contacted the
Malaysian Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) on April 29 to
verify a press article that said Malaysia had banned pork imports
from "affected" countries. The DVS official protested FAS's use of
the term "ban," but did verify that DVS will not issue import
permits for pork products from the United States, and other affected
countries, until further notice. In response, FAS sent a letter on
urging DVS to refrain from enacting any import restrictions on U.S.
pork and pork products in the "absence of any risk to human or
animal health posed by such trade" and in light that the H1N1 virus
"has not been isolated or reported in swine." The Federation of
Livestock Farmers Association of Malaysia had previously urged the
GOM to temporarily freeze pork imports, claiming it was a way to
stop the highly contagious swine flu virus from being brought into
the country. Ironically, the Malaysian Ministry of Health website
cites the WHO and CDC language that pork and pork products do not
transmit the virus and are thus safe to eat. The OIE also has
stated that "only findings related to the circulation of the [H1N1]
virus in pigs in zones of countries having human cases would justify
trade measures on the important of pigs from these countries."


4. (SBU) The Dutch Embassy informed Post's FAS Attach today that
importers of Dutch pork products could not obtain import permits.
It appears that all pork exporting countries will be impacted by the
GOM's recent decision. However, FAS will verify with the U.S. Meat
Export Federation to learn if the organization is aware of anyone
who has submitted, or is planning to submit, a request for an import
permit. Post recommends a coordinated effort with the EU and other
diplomatic missions in Malaysia to protest the GOM's pork ban. Last
year, the United States exported about $390,000 of pork products to
Malaysia, with about $27,000 more so far in the first two months of

2009.

Passenger Screening: Limited to KLIA
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5. (SBU) Contrary to local press reports, the MOH and immigration
departments are only screening passengers arriving from the U.S.,
and not from any other H1N1 "affected" countries. Moreover, only
one international port of entry, the Kuala Lumpur International

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Airport (KLIA),is using thermal scanners to monitor arriving
passengers from international destinations. According to CCD
Director Hasan, Malaysia has 35 scanners, four of which are
currently deployed at KLIA, with the remaining 31 located, but not
in use, in Johor Bahru. Aside from KLIA, Malaysia has four other
international airports, none of which have thermal scanners.

Embassy Holds Town Hall Meeting
--------------


6. (U) Ambassador Keith led a town hall meeting April 29 for
Embassy staff and dependents to review the nature and scope of the
H1N1 flu global outbreak, reiterate appropriate preventative steps
staff could take to reduce risks, and go over measures being taken
by the USG and the GOM. The Embassy will hold a second town hall
meeting April 30 for the American community as a whole.

KEITH