ONE CASE OF H1N1 INFLUENZA IN PORTUGAL

UNCLAS LISBON 000244 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU PO AEMR ASEC PREL CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO, PINR, AMGT, TF SUBJECT: ONE CASE OF H1N1 INFLUENZA IN PORTUGAL REF: STATE 45269 ¶1. Portugal currently has one confirmed case of 2009-H1N1 influenza. The case is a 30 year-old woman who had recently returned from a vacation in Mexico. The Portuguese Health Minister announced that the woman is recovering well and has been asymptomatic for the past few days. Her relatives and fellow travelers were tested and none were infected. There was also a suspected case --an 11 year-old girl who was hospitalized May 4 with flu-like symptoms-- but she has now been confirmed to be not/not a case of H1N1 flu. ¶2. The Portuguese Ministry of Health is taking precautions and following the recommendations of the World Health Organization. The Ministry's Directorate General for Health, which has the lead, has a coordinated action plan to address an outbreak if one should occur. The plan involves national health and pharmaceutical authorities, hospitals, and international organizations such as WHO. The Directorate General has instructed all its employees to cancel leave plans in order to have all hands on deck during this period. ¶3. Re reftel query about use of thermal imaging devices to screen for passengers with elevated temperatures, Portugal is not currently using such devices. ¶4. Embassy Lisbon's EAC committee met on May 5 to discuss these issues. For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal, please see our Intelink site: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal STEPHENSON