FIRST CASE OF H1N1 CONFIRMED IN BAHRAIN

UNCLAS MANAMA 000310 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, OES/UHB, MED E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU TBIO BA SUBJECT: FIRST CASE OF H1N1 CONFIRMED IN BAHRAIN ¶1. (U) On May 26, Ministry of Health Spokesman Adel Ali Abdulla told econoff that the ministry had identified the first confirmed case of the H1N1 virus in Bahrain. The ministry followed published protocols to isolate the patient and test others who may have been exposed. The ministry has placed a team at the international airport to assist immigration officials, but no new screening procedures have been introduced as a result of the case. ¶2. (U) The infected person--a 21 year old Bahraini student--returned on May 23 from a trip to New York along with 75 other students. The patient is currently under quarantine at the Salmaniya Medical Center in Manama where he is being treated with Tamiflu and is reportedly recovering well. Local dailies reported that the student had gone to a local medical clinic complaining of flu-like symptoms soon after his return but was released. He later went to Salmaniya as his symptoms continued to worsen. The Ministry of Health issued a statement urging all travelers to contact the ministry's hotline as soon as they feel any flu-like symptoms particularly if returning from abroad. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** HENZEL