PORTUGAL H1N1 UPDATE - AUG 27

UNCLAS LISBON 000471 SIPDIS HHS FOR CDC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC AMED KFLU ETRD EAGR ECON EC PGOV PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL H1N1 UPDATE - AUG 27 ¶1. As of August 23, Portugal has 2,244 H1N1 cases with no confirmed fatalities to date. 411 additional cases were confirmed in the past week. 10 patients remain hospitalized, 2 in intensive care. The average age for Portuguese cases is 22.4 years old and 88 percent are under 40 years old. ¶2. Health Minister Ana Jorge estimates that 90 percent of the Portuguese cases will not require hospitalization. Health officials are now focused on treating the ill rather than on the prevention of new cases, therefore pregnant women, children under 1 year old, the elderly and other high-risk individuals will only receive prophylactic treatment if they have been in contact with another person infected with H1N1. ¶3. The rate of new cases is expected to increase in September as people return from their holidays and children begin the new school year. According to health officials, 24 percent of those infected are children under 14 years old, and concerned parents are delaying their children's return to school. ¶4. 100 additional nurses have been added to the national dial-in helpline to handle increased call volume, and another 120 nurses are being trained. Health officials are also negotiating to add an additional 420 staff for a new backup call center. For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal, please see our Intelink site: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal BALLARD