Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUALALUMPUR395
2009-05-21 08:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
TFFLU01: MALAYSIA H1N1 UPDATE - MAY 21, 2009
how-toVZCZCXRO9764 RR RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHDH RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO DE RUEHKL #0395/01 1410853 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 210853Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2750 INFO RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1725 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
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
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
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