Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUWAIT594
2009-06-16 14:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT H1N1 UPDATE: 1 YES STUDENT CONFIRMED; NO
how-toVZCZCXRO0491 PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR RUEHHM RUEHPB RUEHTM RUEHTRO DE RUEHKU #0594/01 1671435 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161435Z JUN 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3483 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC PRIORITY
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)
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
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