FIRST H1N1 CASES CONFIRMED IN MASERU

UNCLAS MASERU 000316


DEPT FOR MED; PRETORIA FOR RMO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMED KFLU AMGT PGOV LT
SUBJECT: FIRST H1N1 CASES CONFIRMED IN MASERU


1. The Director of Lesotho's Disease Control Office of the
Ministry of Health publicly confirmed five cases of H1N1 in
Maseru during a televised interview on Lesotho TV on the evening
of September 3, 2009. The five are all resident in urban Maseru
and sought treatment at local health facilities. All were
tested for H1N1 as they experienced high fever and other
symptomatic indicators of the flu. All were treated with
Tamiflu and are reported to have recovered fully.



2. It is unknown exactly when the five patients appeared at
local health facilities for treatment. The results of the
testing were reported to have returned from a South African
laboratory on August 27 and it is not clear why local health
officials waited one week to report the finding publicly.



3. Post understands from Ministry of Health contacts that three
(3) of the cases are females of 9, 14, and 26 years of age. Two
(2) are males aged 12 and 15 years. Two of the patients are
allegedly from the same family. Four of the patients were
treated at a local private clinic in Maseru and one at Queen
Elizabeth II, Lesotho's national referral hospital. Four of the
patients had travelled to South Africa, while the fifth had
contact with a child visiting from South Africa.



4. Comment: Given the close social and economic ties between
Lesotho and South Africa, it is likely that there are other
cases of H1N1 flu in Lesotho. However, with a weak local health
infrastructure and no local laboratory that can test for this
strain of influenza, it is difficult to determine the extent of
infection with this virus. Post will provide updates to the
H1N1 situation in Lesotho as information becomes available.


NOLAN