TFFLU01: MALAYSIA H1N1 UPDATE - MAY 15, 2009

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000377 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR CA/OCS/EAP STATE FOR M/PRI FOR RMORRITZ STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS FOR EPARRA STATE FOR EAP/MTS FOR DBISCHOF STATE FOR OES/AIAG FOR AMBASSSADOR LOFTIS, DWINN AND CPATTERSON STATE FOR REO/BKK FOR HHOWARD STATE FOR OES/IHB, AAIT, MED HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER AND HICKEY CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID AND COGH USDA FOR APHIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR, AMGT, TF, MY SUBJECT: TFFLU01: MALAYSIA H1N1 UPDATE - MAY 15, 2009 REF: Kuala Lumpur 362 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed the first case of H1N1 in Malaysia. The infected individual is a 21 year old Malaysian man who was studying in the U.S. The individual has been quarantined at a government hospital where he is reported to be in stable condition. WHO is still awaiting official notification from MOH before including this case in their official H1N1 count. However, they expect to receive this notification shortly. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The infected individual is a Malaysian citizen who was studying in the U.S. Post has not yet learned where in the U.S. he was studying and living but is continuing efforts to learn this information. He arrived in Malaysia on May 13 aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 originating in Newark. MOH has publicly urged all passengers on that flight to contact the ministry. The infected man successfully passed the screening at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) along with all other passengers on the flight. He did not become symptomatic until May 14. He voluntarily sought medical attention after suffering from fever, sore throat, and body aches. ¶3. (U) Because the individual fit the case description for H1N1, he was taken to Sungai Buloh hospital in the Kuala Lumpur metropolitan area. This is the primary hospital designated by MOH for the treatment and quarantining of H1N1. 28 others hospitals throughout Malaysia have also been designated and put on alert. A sample was taken and tests at the Malaysian Institute of Medical Research (IMR) revealed he was positive for Influenza A(H1N1). IMR uses CDC-provided test kits and WHO is confident in their testing procedures. As such, a WHO official confirmed to ESTHoff that this case will be included in the WHO statistics as soon as notification is received from MOH, which is expected shortly. ¶4. (U) The infected man was given anti-viral treatment and is reportedly in stable condition. His quarantine will likely last one to two weeks per MOH protocol. MOH has contacted his family but they have not been placed under quarantine at this time. ¶5. (U) MOH Director General Ismail Merican urged the public not to panic, stating that MOH was treating the matter appropriately. There have been 10 other suspected cases in Malaysia, all of which were subsequently tested and cleared for H1N1 infection. However, Merican repeated the May 12 Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel advisory to avoid travel to the U.S. and other affected countries (see reftel). ¶6. (U) Minister of Health Liow Tiong Lai is in transit to the World Health Assembly in Geneva. He will reportedly cut short his trip to this already-shortened meeting. Liow has stated to the media that he will push for the WHO to recommend exit screening for H1N1 in all affected countries, including the U.S. KEITH