TFFLU01: MALAYSIA H1N1 UPDATE - MAY 21, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000395 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 21, 2009 REF: Kuala Lumpur 383 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Malaysia's only two confirmed H1N1 cases will be released from quarantine on May 21 after the Ministry of Health (MOH) pronounced them both healthy. One AmCit who had traveled with these individuals was released from quarantine on May 20 after experiencing no symptoms. However, two more AmCits who had traveled on a Cathay Pacific flight from New York to Hong Kong with one of Hong Kong's confirmed cases were placed in quarantine the same day. MOH officials have confirmed that there has been no known local transmission of the virus. Malaysia remains committed to a containment and prevention policy and is increasing its screening efforts. Post issued this week a warden message and a management notice to update the local American citizen and Embassy communities. END SUMMARY -------------- Out of Quarantine -------------- ¶2. (U) Two Malaysians who had contracted H1N1 while studying in the U.S. are scheduled to be released from quarantine on May 21, according to MOH Director General Ismail Merican. They had traveled to Malaysia together on May 13 and were placed under quarantine in government hospitals on May 15 and 16. Both individuals responded well to Tamiflu treatment and all symptoms have resolved. ¶3. (U) All passengers and crew who were on the same flights with the infected individuals were asked to report to MOH. 222 individuals were located and placed under home quarantine. One AmCit was quarantined in hospital because he did not have a home in Malaysia. All of these individuals have now been released from quarantine with no reported symptoms. The standard quarantine period is a minimum of seven days after the potential contact. One Malaysian and ten foreigners, including two AmCits, also traveled with the infected individuals but were not found. One of these AmCits notified ConOff that he had returned to the U.S. prior to receiving notification of the situation. He subsequently went to an emergency room in the U.S. and said he was given a clean bill of health. Post is unaware of the actions of the third AmCit. MOH has stopped looking for these individuals stating that they would have become symptomatic by now if infected. -------------- Into Quarantine -------------- ¶4. (U) Two AmCit tourists traveling together were placed under quarantine in government hospital in Sabah. They were on Cathay Pacific flight CX831 from New York to Hong Kong on May 16 with a passenger who later was confirmed to have H1N1 in Hong Kong. The AmCit couple continued to Kota Kinabalu where they joined a tour group. Upon learning of the confirmed case in Hong Kong, MOH quarantined the AmCits on May 20. Because they were tourists with no home in Malaysia, they were placed in hospital rather than home quarantine. The other members of their tour group, none of whom had firsthand contact with the infected individual in Hong Kong, were placed under home quarantine. MOH reports no signs of infection in any of these individuals. ConOff has been in regular communication with the quarantined AmCits and reports that they are being treated well and are comfortable given the circumstances. They are expected to be released on May 23 unless flu symptoms appear. -------------- Cautious Containment -------------- ¶5. (U) With the release of the two confirmed cases from quarantine, local media reports claim Malaysia to be H1N1 free. MOH's Merican has encouraged the public to remain calm, especially as they prepare for around 540 Malaysian students to come home from studying in the U.S. during summer break. He has characterized the virus as "highly KUALA LUMP 00000395 002 OF 002 contagious but mild." MOH has more thermal scanners ready to be deployed but claims the 20 scanners that are already in use are meeting the current need. MOH and local media have used the attention surrounding H1N1 to highlight other health issues, including the potential risk of H5N1 and recent local outbreaks of meningitis and influenza B. -------------- Post's Actions -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Post issued a CA approved warden message on May 19, which updated the American citizen community on latest developments related to H1N1. A similar management notice for Embassy personnel and their families was issued on May 20. KEITH