KUWAIT H1N1 UPDATE: 1 YES STUDENT CONFIRMED; NO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000594 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, OES/IHB, MED, AIAG STATE PASS TO AID HHS FOR OGHA HHS PASS TO CDC USDA PASS TO APHIS AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB OFFICER E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2019 TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL, PINR, AMGT, TF, KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT H1N1 UPDATE: 1 YES STUDENT CONFIRMED; NO NEW MILITARY CASES REF: A. KUWAIT 574 ¶B. KUWAIT 530 ¶C. KUWAIT 515 ¶D. KUWAIT 498 ¶E. KUWAIT 455 Classified By: ECONCOUNS Oliver B. John for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: -There have been no new confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza among U.S. military personnel in Kuwait since June 4. The total number of confirmations remains at 69, though the WHO and GOK continue to state 18. -One Kuwaiti high school student who participated in the USG-funded AYUSA end-of-stay orientation at the Department of State in Washington, DC June 10-13 has tested positive for H1N1 influenza. At least 11 other students from the same group are considered "suspected" cases by the GOK; H1N1 test results are due June 16 or 17. END SUMMARY. NO NEW CASES AMONG U.S. MILITARY -------------- ¶2. (C) There have been no new confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza among U.S. military personnel transiting via Kuwait since June 4. Altogether, 69 cases have been confirmed (ref A). Though HHS informed the WHO of 50 (of the 51) additional cases on June 8, the WHO website has not been updated accordingly and the GOK continues to stand by the figure of 18 confirmed cases among U.S. military personnel passing through Kuwait. Since May 29, joint ARCENT-Kuwait Air Force medical teams have screened 13,596 U.S. troops arriving at Abdullah Al-Mubarak air base, with only two suspected cases, neither of whom tested positive for H1N1 influenza. AT LEAST ONE USG-SPONSORED EXCHANGE STUDENT INFECTED -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) One Kuwaiti high school student tested positive for H1N1 influenza June 16. He was among a group of 15 Kuwait-based students who spent the 2008-09 academic year on the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program in the U.S., partly funded by DOS. Eleven of these 15 students are currently considered "suspected" H1N1 cases by the Ministry of Health; a senior Ministry official told Econoff that results for the 11 were expected by the morning of June 17. The 15 students arrived in Kuwait on the evening of June 13 on a United Airlines direct flight from Washington, DC (IAD). Thirteen Bahraini students with the YES program were on the same flight: seven of them tested positive for H1N1 influenza in Manama on June 14, with two more testing positive on June ¶16. ¶4. (SBU) Post coordinated June 15 with AMIDEAST (which administers the YES program in Kuwait),United Airlines and the Ministry of Health, resulting in testing for all 15 students -- most of whom complained of flu-like symptoms -- on June 15 and 16. Post understands that these 15 Kuwait-based students and 13 Manama-based students spent June 10-13 with approximately 335 other students from Arab and Islamic countries at the AYUSA end-of-stay orientation in Washington, DC, including sessions in an auditorium at the Department of State. Post understands that it is possible that the Kuwaiti and Bahraini students may have contracted the H1N1 virus during the AYUSA program in Washington, DC. Post continues to liaise closely with the Ministry of Health and AMIDEAST. The Ministry of Education, AMIDEAST's partner in implementing the YES program in Kuwait, was also notified of developments. ¶5. (SBU) As of the afternoon of June 16, the Kuwait media have reported on the Ministry of Health's June 15 announcement that it intended to test all passengers on the affected United Airlines flight, as well as the June 16 announcement that one Kuwaiti on the flight has tested positive for H1N1 influenza. (Note: this is the first time KUWAIT 00000594 002 OF 002 that a Kuwaiti national has been confirmed with the H1N1 virus. End Note). Thus far, articles have focused on the U.S. Embassy's coordination with the GOK and not on the YES exchange program. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES