Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MERIDA133
2009-07-20 19:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Merida
Cable title:
SPIKE IN H1N1 INFLUENZA CASES IN YUCATAN RAISES MILD
how-toVZCZCXRO1868 RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRS RUEHTM DE RUEHRD #0133 2011959 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 201959Z JUL 09 FM AMCONSUL MERIDA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4846 INFO RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1430 RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE RUEHRD/AMCONSUL MERIDA 2202
UNCLAS MERIDA 000133
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/MEX, WHA/PDA, OES/IAB, MED/DASHO, MED/DIR, CA/OCS, PA, EEB, DS/IP/WHA
MEXICO FOR POL, USAID, RSO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT AMED CASC TBIO ASEC KFLU KSAF KSEO KPAO
SUBJECT: SPIKE IN H1N1 INFLUENZA CASES IN YUCATAN RAISES MILD
CRITICISM ABOUT LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
UNCLAS MERIDA 000133
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/MEX, WHA/PDA, OES/IAB, MED/DASHO, MED/DIR, CA/OCS, PA, EEB, DS/IP/WHA
MEXICO FOR POL, USAID, RSO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT AMED CASC TBIO ASEC KFLU KSAF KSEO KPAO
SUBJECT: SPIKE IN H1N1 INFLUENZA CASES IN YUCATAN RAISES MILD
CRITICISM ABOUT LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
1. (U) Summary: Confirmed cases of H1N1 in the State of
Yucatan are increasing but the public remains largely
unconcerned. Some local officials speculate that the rise in
cases is due to respiratory problems caused by seasonal rains.
Others argue that lax testing methods concealed the true number
of cases until recently. End Summary.
2. (U) To date, the State of Yucatan has registered 1,976
cases of Type A H1N1 Influenza, with 53 persons currently
hospitalized. The State has the second highest rate of
infection after Mexico City, which has registered 2,142 cases.
Chiapas follows in third place with 1,777 registered cases.
There have been eight confirmed deaths in the State of Yucatan
attributed to the virus. Yucatan Secretary of Health Dr. Alvaro
Quijano-Vivas attributes the increase in cases to seasonal
climatic changes, in particular recent heavy rains, which are
causing respiratory problems in the general population, and to
the fact that a new laboratory facility, inaugurated two weeks
ago greatly expanded the capacity of the State to test and
detect the H1N1 strain. During the first ten days that the
laboratory was open, 360 new cases were diagnosed.
3. (U) Local authorities have received mild criticism in
recent days for under-reporting actual cases and only testing
the very ill for the possibility of H1N1. Local media reported
that Dr. Miguel Gamboa-Gamboa, Head of Infectious Diseases at
the Clinica de Merida, estimated that the total number of cases
could be three times that reported by State officials. In a
subsequent conversation with Merida's Principal Officer, Dr.
Gamboa backed down from his statements reported in the media and
echoed the Secretary of Health's opinion that the increase was
seasonal. The Governor's office was silent until yesterday,
when she finally spoke to the press and reinforced the Health
Secretary's recommendations for preventing the spread of
influenza: washing hands frequently, not touching your face,
and seeing a doctor instead of self-medicating if ill.
4. (U) Comment: The local population appears largely
unconcerned about the virus, even though some schools closed out
the year earlier than anticipated due to a large numbers of
students with cold and flu-like symptoms. The "social
distancing" restrictions in place during the height of the
crisis are not currently in place and the impact on tourism is
negligible. Although the State Secretary of Health says they
are continuing with their campaign of prevention, they admit
that the rise in cases is in part due to a lack of concern and
attention within the local population, which could be addressed
by a more aggressive public campaign. End comment.
MARTIN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/MEX, WHA/PDA, OES/IAB, MED/DASHO, MED/DIR, CA/OCS, PA, EEB, DS/IP/WHA
MEXICO FOR POL, USAID, RSO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT AMED CASC TBIO ASEC KFLU KSAF KSEO KPAO
SUBJECT: SPIKE IN H1N1 INFLUENZA CASES IN YUCATAN RAISES MILD
CRITICISM ABOUT LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
1. (U) Summary: Confirmed cases of H1N1 in the State of
Yucatan are increasing but the public remains largely
unconcerned. Some local officials speculate that the rise in
cases is due to respiratory problems caused by seasonal rains.
Others argue that lax testing methods concealed the true number
of cases until recently. End Summary.
2. (U) To date, the State of Yucatan has registered 1,976
cases of Type A H1N1 Influenza, with 53 persons currently
hospitalized. The State has the second highest rate of
infection after Mexico City, which has registered 2,142 cases.
Chiapas follows in third place with 1,777 registered cases.
There have been eight confirmed deaths in the State of Yucatan
attributed to the virus. Yucatan Secretary of Health Dr. Alvaro
Quijano-Vivas attributes the increase in cases to seasonal
climatic changes, in particular recent heavy rains, which are
causing respiratory problems in the general population, and to
the fact that a new laboratory facility, inaugurated two weeks
ago greatly expanded the capacity of the State to test and
detect the H1N1 strain. During the first ten days that the
laboratory was open, 360 new cases were diagnosed.
3. (U) Local authorities have received mild criticism in
recent days for under-reporting actual cases and only testing
the very ill for the possibility of H1N1. Local media reported
that Dr. Miguel Gamboa-Gamboa, Head of Infectious Diseases at
the Clinica de Merida, estimated that the total number of cases
could be three times that reported by State officials. In a
subsequent conversation with Merida's Principal Officer, Dr.
Gamboa backed down from his statements reported in the media and
echoed the Secretary of Health's opinion that the increase was
seasonal. The Governor's office was silent until yesterday,
when she finally spoke to the press and reinforced the Health
Secretary's recommendations for preventing the spread of
influenza: washing hands frequently, not touching your face,
and seeing a doctor instead of self-medicating if ill.
4. (U) Comment: The local population appears largely
unconcerned about the virus, even though some schools closed out
the year earlier than anticipated due to a large numbers of
students with cold and flu-like symptoms. The "social
distancing" restrictions in place during the height of the
crisis are not currently in place and the impact on tourism is
negligible. Although the State Secretary of Health says they
are continuing with their campaign of prevention, they admit
that the rise in cases is in part due to a lack of concern and
attention within the local population, which could be addressed
by a more aggressive public campaign. End comment.
MARTIN