H1N1 CASE CONFIRMED IN NIGERIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000434 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL APER NI SUBJECT: H1N1 CASE CONFIRMED IN NIGERIA REF: A. ABUJA 0747 Classified By: CG D. BLAIR for reasons 1.4(b & d) ¶1. (C) A case of H1N1 flu was confirmed in Lagos on November ¶2. A child of a U.S. citizen Mission employee contracted the virus over a month ago. The minor has fully recovered and no other case of H1N1 has been reported since. This is the first confirmed case of H1N1 in Nigeria, although most likely not the first case. The Regional Medical Officer (RMO) in Lagos stated that H1N1 could have been in Nigeria for some time and not have been reported. GON health officials have stated that there was no H1N1 flu in Nigeria (Reftel A). The RMO attributes this to health professionals confusing flu symptoms with malaria symptoms as well as lack of testing. The RMO stated that H1N1 vaccines will be shipped from CDC Atlanta to Congen Lagos this week. However, she is unsure of the quantity that will be shipped. ¶2. (C) GON health officials are aware of the AMCIT case. They have informally approached the CDC Country Director and suggested concluding an agreed mechanism, such as an MOU, for the handling of any Mission AMCIT H1N1 cases. Their intention is to report U.S. citizen cases along with any other cases that they are required to report to the World Health Organization, without specifying the nationality of the U.S. citizen cases. The Mission has requested Washington,s guidance (e-mail to State Department Nigeria Desk on (11/02/09) on how to handle required reporting of possible H1N1 cases of Mission personnel and/or their dependents. ¶3. (SBU) Silverbird Radio and Punch newspapers reported the confirmation of H1N1 on November 5 despite the GON's assurance that they would not disclose the case. (NOTE: ConGen does not know who provided the information to the media. End Note). In reporting the confirmation, both news outlets stated that a nine-year old girl was treated at the U.S. Consulate clinic in Lagos thereby allowing readers to deduce that the minor was a U.S. citizen and part of Mission Nigeria. PAS has yet to receive any phone calls. Talking points have been drawn up and PAS is ready to respond to reporters if needed. ¶4. (C) Children of Consulate staff received immunizations for seasonal flu at the Consulate in Lagos on November 4. Other U.S. citizens at the Consulate who could be susceptible to H1N1, such as those who are pregnant or have diabetes, will Receive immunizations once the vaccines arrive. There is not enough vaccine for every U.S. citizen at the Consulate. Embassy Abuja has also received vaccines. ¶5. (C) ConGen Lagos coordinated this telegram with Embassy Abuja. BLAIR