Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAPAZ1029
2009-07-13 13:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
MGSF01: BOLIVIA: 416 CONFIRMED CASES
how-toVZCZCXRO5800 PP RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHSL RUEHTM RUEHTRO DE RUEHLP #1029 1941334 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 131334Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1249 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 9104 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6496 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0458 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 7671 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 4717 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5048 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 4398 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 7334 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 2097 RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 1082 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 2398 RUEAYVF/FAA MIAMI ARTCC MIAMI FL RHMFIUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEHC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS LA PAZ 001029
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AADP AEMR AMGT ASEC BL CASC EAID KFLO KPAO
KSAF, KSCA, PINR, PREL, TBIO, KFLU, AID
SUBJECT: MGSF01: BOLIVIA: 416 CONFIRMED CASES
REF: A. LA PAZ 960
B. LA PAZ 884
C. LA PAZ 802
D. LA PAZ 633
E. SECSTATE 42349
UNCLAS LA PAZ 001029
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AADP AEMR AMGT ASEC BL CASC EAID KFLO KPAO
KSAF, KSCA, PINR, PREL, TBIO, KFLU, AID
SUBJECT: MGSF01: BOLIVIA: 416 CONFIRMED CASES
REF: A. LA PAZ 960
¶B. LA PAZ 884
¶C. LA PAZ 802
¶D. LA PAZ 633
¶E. SECSTATE 42349
¶1. As of July 10, Bolivia has 416 World Health Organization
(WHO) confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu. The Bolivian Center
for Tropical Diseases (CENETROP) claims 542 confirmed cases.
Epidemiology officials communicated that CENETROP laboratory
H1N1 testing capacity is now limited due to a shortage of
reagents for H1N1 detection. The Bolivian government remains
on alert in trying to control the spread of the virus,
issuing restrictions on events with large crowds and
mandatory use of masks. Many schools and universities remain
closed for early winter break and international star Daddy
Yankee's scheduled July concert in Santa Cruz has been
postponed. Bolivia's bicentennial celebration and La Paz Day
will take place July 16, and the GOB is concerned over the
large grouping of people it expects to attend. The Minister
of Health has requested that the Government cancel the
festivities and also close down government offices in Santa
Cruz, where the virus has hit the hardest. The GOB has
publicly stated it will not cancel the celebration and has
not yet confirmed the status of any GOB offices in Santa
Cruz.
¶2. There is one reported death due to the virus, although
this has not been confirmed by the WHO. Bolivia's reported
cases still remain dwarfed by bordering countries, such as
Argentina and Chile, who have thousands of confirmed cases.
Despite information disseminated to assure the population
that the H1N1 flu is milder than the regular flu, the
pandemic fears remain a front page story nearly every day in
all local papers. A significant portion of the population can
be seen wearing masks daily around the major cities. A group
of EmbOffs were recently forced to wear masks at an event
under the presumption they were tourists, despite that the
local population was not under the same requirement.
¶3. Post continues to monitor the situation and will report as
necessary. POC for all H1N1 related queries is Kelly Diiro,
591-2-216-8225, diirokl@state.gov.
CREAGAN