Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAPAZ1079
2009-07-23 21:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
BOLIVIA: H1N1 GOVT INTERVENTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO5071 PP RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHSL RUEHTM RUEHTRO DE RUEHLP #1079/01 2042145 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 232145Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1341 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 9123 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6515 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0477 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 7690 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 4736 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5067 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 4402 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 7353 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 2116 RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 1083 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 2399 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 SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 001079
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AADP AEMR AMGT ASEC BL CASC EAID KFLO KPAO
KSAF, KSCA, PINR, PREL, TBIO, KFLU, AID
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: H1N1 GOVT INTERVENTIONS
REF: A. SECSTATE 73971
B. LA PAZ 1029
C. LA PAZ 960
D. LA PAZ 884
E. LA PAZ 802
F. LA PAZ 633
G. SECSTATE 42349
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 001079
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AADP AEMR AMGT ASEC BL CASC EAID KFLO KPAO
KSAF, KSCA, PINR, PREL, TBIO, KFLU, AID
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: H1N1 GOVT INTERVENTIONS
REF: A. SECSTATE 73971
B. LA PAZ 1029
C. LA PAZ 960
D. LA PAZ 884
E. LA PAZ 802
F. LA PAZ 633
G. SECSTATE 42349
1. Since ref B, Bolivia now reports five deaths from the H1N1
virus and over 600 cases throughout the country. Per ref A,
the following is information relating to the national
interventions for H1N1 influenza in Bolivia.
2. Making Influenza a Notifiable Disease and Emergency
Declarations
The national alert to confront Influenza AH1N1 was in April
2009, following the outbreak in Mexico.
A Ministry of Health resolution, with the support of the
national Emergency operations Committee declared a National
Emergency in the first week of May. It allows the government
to mobilize resources; it has not been modified since.
Isolation Policies
Isolation policies were implemented with the first cases of
influenza in Bolivia May 28, mainly directed at public health
services.
There was an effort to strengthen infectious diseases wards
with bio-safety materials and increase the number of beds for
isolation of patients.
Quarantine in Infected Households
Domiciliary isolation for symptomatic but non-serious
patients has been implemented since the beginning of the
epidemic.
School Closure
Winter vacation coincided with the fast spread of the virus.
Schools were closed from June 20th to July 20th, except in
Santa Cruz, where there was a larger outbreak and schools
remain closed for longer periods. The Ministry of Education
has implemented a symptom trip-wire mechanism to find
possible cases in schools.
Closure of Theaters and Other Locations
Cinemas, night clubs, and restaurants in Santa Cruz were
obligated to reduce their attendance by one-half during July.
The city government mandate is expected to last two weeks.
No special measures were taken for public transportation,
though many taxi drivers continue to wear masks.
Mask Ordinances
In Santa Cruz, the city government issued a decree forcing
all government workers to use the masks. The same decree
requires that all citizens use a mask in hospitals and public
buildings, regardless if they are showing symptoms of the flu
or not.
In La Paz and Cochabamba, public institutions, businesses and
food handlers are required to use common masks.
All health providers of public and private health services
must use masks.
N95 masks are not widely used due to high cost and limited
availability.
The government has encouraged proper hygiene precautions such
as covering the mouth when coughing and washing hands,
however given the severe lack of infrastructure, particularly
in water and sewage, that is not always possible.
Funerals
There are currently no guidelines for funerals.
Reduction of Transmission in the Workplace
Public information messages have been displayed in public and
LA PAZ 00001079 002 OF 002
private offices.
Epidemic Situation and Health Services
The first wave of the pandemic hit Bolivia July 20.
H1N1 diagnostics were performed at the Center for Tropical
Diseases (CENETROP) and results were confirmed by the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
As of July 22, CENETROP has run out of reagents and all
diagnostic tests have been suspended. As such, the Ministry
of Health will no longer release official counts of H1N1
cases in Bolivia.
The Ministry of Health has distributed 20,000 Tamiflu
treatments to the Department of Health Services. An
additional 600,000 seasonal influenza vaccines are expected
to arrive in the coming weeks and will be prioritized for
those under 15 or senior citizens.
Most cases of the H1N1 influenza are being treated at public
hospitals, where the quality of the care varies widely.
Private hospitals report that they have a rare few cases,
although none severe.
Post speculates that due to the continuous front-page news
coverage, service providers will be pressured to give Tamiflu
and seasonal flu vaccines to overly-concerned citizens,
regardless of their risk factors. This could lead to severe
shortages in the next few months, if the spread of the virus
continues at its current rate.
Despite what some may classify as a hyperbolic reaction, the
pandemic has had positive results as increased funding to the
MOH has allowed it to offer minor upgrades to health care
facilities, such as the addition of thirty respirators to
public hospitals around the country.
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
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AADP AEMR AMGT ASEC BL CASC EAID KFLO KPAO
KSAF, KSCA, PINR, PREL, TBIO, KFLU, AID
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: H1N1 GOVT INTERVENTIONS
REF: A. SECSTATE 73971
B. LA PAZ 1029
C. LA PAZ 960
D. LA PAZ 884
E. LA PAZ 802
F. LA PAZ 633
G. SECSTATE 42349
1. Since ref B, Bolivia now reports five deaths from the H1N1
virus and over 600 cases throughout the country. Per ref A,
the following is information relating to the national
interventions for H1N1 influenza in Bolivia.
2. Making Influenza a Notifiable Disease and Emergency
Declarations
The national alert to confront Influenza AH1N1 was in April
2009, following the outbreak in Mexico.
A Ministry of Health resolution, with the support of the
national Emergency operations Committee declared a National
Emergency in the first week of May. It allows the government
to mobilize resources; it has not been modified since.
Isolation Policies
Isolation policies were implemented with the first cases of
influenza in Bolivia May 28, mainly directed at public health
services.
There was an effort to strengthen infectious diseases wards
with bio-safety materials and increase the number of beds for
isolation of patients.
Quarantine in Infected Households
Domiciliary isolation for symptomatic but non-serious
patients has been implemented since the beginning of the
epidemic.
School Closure
Winter vacation coincided with the fast spread of the virus.
Schools were closed from June 20th to July 20th, except in
Santa Cruz, where there was a larger outbreak and schools
remain closed for longer periods. The Ministry of Education
has implemented a symptom trip-wire mechanism to find
possible cases in schools.
Closure of Theaters and Other Locations
Cinemas, night clubs, and restaurants in Santa Cruz were
obligated to reduce their attendance by one-half during July.
The city government mandate is expected to last two weeks.
No special measures were taken for public transportation,
though many taxi drivers continue to wear masks.
Mask Ordinances
In Santa Cruz, the city government issued a decree forcing
all government workers to use the masks. The same decree
requires that all citizens use a mask in hospitals and public
buildings, regardless if they are showing symptoms of the flu
or not.
In La Paz and Cochabamba, public institutions, businesses and
food handlers are required to use common masks.
All health providers of public and private health services
must use masks.
N95 masks are not widely used due to high cost and limited
availability.
The government has encouraged proper hygiene precautions such
as covering the mouth when coughing and washing hands,
however given the severe lack of infrastructure, particularly
in water and sewage, that is not always possible.
Funerals
There are currently no guidelines for funerals.
Reduction of Transmission in the Workplace
Public information messages have been displayed in public and
LA PAZ 00001079 002 OF 002
private offices.
Epidemic Situation and Health Services
The first wave of the pandemic hit Bolivia July 20.
H1N1 diagnostics were performed at the Center for Tropical
Diseases (CENETROP) and results were confirmed by the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
As of July 22, CENETROP has run out of reagents and all
diagnostic tests have been suspended. As such, the Ministry
of Health will no longer release official counts of H1N1
cases in Bolivia.
The Ministry of Health has distributed 20,000 Tamiflu
treatments to the Department of Health Services. An
additional 600,000 seasonal influenza vaccines are expected
to arrive in the coming weeks and will be prioritized for
those under 15 or senior citizens.
Most cases of the H1N1 influenza are being treated at public
hospitals, where the quality of the care varies widely.
Private hospitals report that they have a rare few cases,
although none severe.
Post speculates that due to the continuous front-page news
coverage, service providers will be pressured to give Tamiflu
and seasonal flu vaccines to overly-concerned citizens,
regardless of their risk factors. This could lead to severe
shortages in the next few months, if the spread of the virus
continues at its current rate.
Despite what some may classify as a hyperbolic reaction, the
pandemic has had positive results as increased funding to the
MOH has allowed it to offer minor upgrades to health care
facilities, such as the addition of thirty respirators to
public hospitals around the country.
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