Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAPAZ1029
2009-07-13 13:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

MGSF01: BOLIVIA: 416 CONFIRMED CASES

Tags:  AADP AEMR AMGT ASEC BL CASC EAID KFLO KPAO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5800
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