Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUALALUMPUR476
2009-06-12 08:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
MALAYSIA H1N1 UPDATE - June 12, 2009
how-toVZCZCXRO7346 RR RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHDH RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO DE RUEHKL #0476/01 1630804 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 120804Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2849 INFO RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1739 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 000476
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: MALAYSIA H1N1 UPDATE - June 12, 2009
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000476
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: MALAYSIA H1N1 UPDATE - June 12, 2009
1. (U) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed a total
of 11 H1N1 cases in Malaysia. Of these 11 cases, seven cases have
been previously treated and released with no reported deaths. The
remaining four cases are currently receiving treatment in quarantine
including one U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident. The LPR is a
17-year-old girl who traveled to Malaysia with her family on Monday,
June 8. She has been quarantined at a MOH hospital near Kuala
Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and is reportedly in stable
condition. MOH has announced stricter screening procedures in light
of the WHO pandemic threat level moving to Phase 6, including
screening passengers onboard flights from infected countries prior
to their disembarkation. END SUMMARY
--------------
Confirmed Cases
--------------
2. (U) Four individuals are currently quarantined at designated MOH
hospitals after testing positive for H1N1. One of these is a
17-year-old LPR from the U.S. who had traveled to Malaysia with her
parents. She arrived at KLIA on Monday, June 8 onboard Malaysia
Airlines flight MH91 from Newark. She had reportedly been
symptomatic with a fever for 10 days prior to traveling to Malaysia.
She is the first and only positive case in Malaysia that was
actually discovered through MOH screening procedures; thermal
scanners detected this individual's fever at KLIA. The other cases
all self-reported to MOH after arriving in Malaysia. She has been
quarantined at Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban near the airport.
She is reportedly in stable condition and responding well to Tamiflu
treatment.
3. (U) The three other confirmed cases in quarantine are also
reportedly in stable condition. They included a New Zealander
quarantined in Penang, a Malaysian who had traveled in Australia,
and another Malaysian returning from Manila via Singapore. All 11
cases in Malaysia, the current four cases plus the previously
released 7 cases, have been travelers who appear to have been
infected outside of Malaysia. There has been no reported local
transmission of the virus. MOH continues in its efforts to contain
the spread of H1N1 through quarantining contacts of infected
individuals. There are currently 123 individuals under home
quarantine after having been in contact with a confirmed case; none
of the individuals currently quarantined are thought to be AmCits.
Post will continue to coordinate with MOH regarding AmCits who face
quarantine. To date, all quarantined AmCits have been treated well
and have not sought any extraordinary assistance from Post.
--------------
MOH Response to WHO Phase 6
--------------
4. (U) MOH anticipated the WHO pandemic threat level moving to
Phase 6 and MOH officials have been making public statements over
the last week that they would be ready if this action occurred.
Minister of Health Liow Tiong Lai has announced stricter screening
measures as a result of the move to Phase 6 including screening
those from non-affected countries. Effective immediately, all
passengers traveling from non-affected countries who show any flu
symptoms must have a throat swab prior to exiting the airport.
These individuals will be asked to self-quarantine and wear a face
mask until the results from the swab test are returned. Passengers
traveling from H1N1 affected countries with flu symptoms will
continue to be taken by ambulance to a MOH hospital for testing.
Liow also announced that MOH will begin screening all passengers
onboard flights from affected countries prior to their
disembarkation from the plane.
5. (U) As a response to the heightened situation, the MOH
Operations Center has extended its hours to 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Liow said MOH officials will be visiting various hospitals and
clinics to make sure they are aware of all current protocols. He
also stated that WHO had not recommended any travel restrictions and
KUALA LUMP 00000476 002 OF 002
Malaysia was following that guidance. The National
Inter-Ministerial Influenza Pandemic Committee will meet next week
to discuss the situation and perhaps recommend further changes in
protocol.
--------------
Post's Activities
--------------
6. (U) Post will submit a draft warden message to CA by COB on June
12 for immediate distribution upon approval. Post has prepared a
management notice for the Embassy community. These notices explain
the meaning of WHO Phase 6 while highlighting the abovementioned
changes to MOH procedures and reminding employees to follow good
hygiene practices. Post will continue to monitor the situation
carefully.
RAPSON
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: MALAYSIA H1N1 UPDATE - June 12, 2009
1. (U) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed a total
of 11 H1N1 cases in Malaysia. Of these 11 cases, seven cases have
been previously treated and released with no reported deaths. The
remaining four cases are currently receiving treatment in quarantine
including one U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident. The LPR is a
17-year-old girl who traveled to Malaysia with her family on Monday,
June 8. She has been quarantined at a MOH hospital near Kuala
Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and is reportedly in stable
condition. MOH has announced stricter screening procedures in light
of the WHO pandemic threat level moving to Phase 6, including
screening passengers onboard flights from infected countries prior
to their disembarkation. END SUMMARY
--------------
Confirmed Cases
--------------
2. (U) Four individuals are currently quarantined at designated MOH
hospitals after testing positive for H1N1. One of these is a
17-year-old LPR from the U.S. who had traveled to Malaysia with her
parents. She arrived at KLIA on Monday, June 8 onboard Malaysia
Airlines flight MH91 from Newark. She had reportedly been
symptomatic with a fever for 10 days prior to traveling to Malaysia.
She is the first and only positive case in Malaysia that was
actually discovered through MOH screening procedures; thermal
scanners detected this individual's fever at KLIA. The other cases
all self-reported to MOH after arriving in Malaysia. She has been
quarantined at Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban near the airport.
She is reportedly in stable condition and responding well to Tamiflu
treatment.
3. (U) The three other confirmed cases in quarantine are also
reportedly in stable condition. They included a New Zealander
quarantined in Penang, a Malaysian who had traveled in Australia,
and another Malaysian returning from Manila via Singapore. All 11
cases in Malaysia, the current four cases plus the previously
released 7 cases, have been travelers who appear to have been
infected outside of Malaysia. There has been no reported local
transmission of the virus. MOH continues in its efforts to contain
the spread of H1N1 through quarantining contacts of infected
individuals. There are currently 123 individuals under home
quarantine after having been in contact with a confirmed case; none
of the individuals currently quarantined are thought to be AmCits.
Post will continue to coordinate with MOH regarding AmCits who face
quarantine. To date, all quarantined AmCits have been treated well
and have not sought any extraordinary assistance from Post.
--------------
MOH Response to WHO Phase 6
--------------
4. (U) MOH anticipated the WHO pandemic threat level moving to
Phase 6 and MOH officials have been making public statements over
the last week that they would be ready if this action occurred.
Minister of Health Liow Tiong Lai has announced stricter screening
measures as a result of the move to Phase 6 including screening
those from non-affected countries. Effective immediately, all
passengers traveling from non-affected countries who show any flu
symptoms must have a throat swab prior to exiting the airport.
These individuals will be asked to self-quarantine and wear a face
mask until the results from the swab test are returned. Passengers
traveling from H1N1 affected countries with flu symptoms will
continue to be taken by ambulance to a MOH hospital for testing.
Liow also announced that MOH will begin screening all passengers
onboard flights from affected countries prior to their
disembarkation from the plane.
5. (U) As a response to the heightened situation, the MOH
Operations Center has extended its hours to 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Liow said MOH officials will be visiting various hospitals and
clinics to make sure they are aware of all current protocols. He
also stated that WHO had not recommended any travel restrictions and
KUALA LUMP 00000476 002 OF 002
Malaysia was following that guidance. The National
Inter-Ministerial Influenza Pandemic Committee will meet next week
to discuss the situation and perhaps recommend further changes in
protocol.
--------------
Post's Activities
--------------
6. (U) Post will submit a draft warden message to CA by COB on June
12 for immediate distribution upon approval. Post has prepared a
management notice for the Embassy community. These notices explain
the meaning of WHO Phase 6 while highlighting the abovementioned
changes to MOH procedures and reminding employees to follow good
hygiene practices. Post will continue to monitor the situation
carefully.
RAPSON