H1N1 CLAIMS SECOND LUXEMBOURGER LIFE

UNCLAS LUXEMBOURG 000341 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KFLU CASC SOCI ASCH AMED KPAO TBIO LU SUBJECT: H1N1 CLAIMS SECOND LUXEMBOURGER LIFE ¶1. (U) The Grand Duchy registered its second swine flu-related death on 16 November. The 48-year-old victim, like Luxembourg's only other fatal case, suffered from other, unspecified maladies. Luxembourg's Health Ministry reports 1,535 estimated cases across the country (as of 17 November). Government officials have insisted from day one that Luxembourg has the necessary resources to inoculate the country's entire population, and, in fact, has ordered 700,000 doses of Pandemrix from GlaxoSmithKline (Luxembourg's total population falls just under half a million). ¶2. (U) The International School of Luxembourg (ISL) has reported high counts of H1N1-related cases among the student and faculty bodies. While classes have not been suspended, certain weekend activities were canceled and the school underwent a total facility cleansing over the weekend of 21-22 November. ISL families have received a letter preparing parents for the possible closure of the school if absenteeism rates continue to climb, particularly among the teaching population. ISL is emphasizing that the symptoms exhibited at the school match those of both the H1N1 and seasonal flus. Many Embassy community children attend the ISL, and, while the relationship is not of one direct U.S. sponsorship, Post is represented at ISL Board meetings. ¶3. (SBU) While Post's analysis is that the GoL is indeed prepared to handle any H1N1-related pandemic inside Luxembourg's borders, the government appears to be wary of an edgy population. Aside from announcing the nationwide vaccination program, the Health Ministry has been nearly silent on the subject. In fact, the Health Ministry's National Health Institute only reports total cases per week, with no aggregate count. Post had to sift through several layers of bureaucracy at the Health Ministry before a physician would provide the total estimate noted above. While the GoL is equipped - medically - for a possible outbreak, it does not appear ready to face a scared public that could resort to panic if numbers skyrocket. VIA