SITREP 2 - SWINE FLU OUTBREAK IN MEXICO CITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MEXICO 001172 SIPDIS SIPRNET STATE FOR WHA/MEX; WHA/PDA, STATE FOR OES/IHB; PA, CAPRESE STATE FOR MED/DASHO (MCFADDEN, RINALDO, KEYES) STATE FOR EEB AND DS/IP/WHA STATE FOR MED/DIR (PENNER) CDC FOR CCID/NCPDCID, CCID/NCIRD AND COGH/DGPPC DHS FOR CBP USDA FOR OSTA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC CVIS ECON KSCA MX TBIO SUBJECT: SITREP 2 - SWINE FLU OUTBREAK IN MEXICO CITY REF: MEXICO 1171 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: -------------- The GOM announced April 25 that schools will remain closed until May 6 in Federal District, State of Mexico and San Luis Potosi. The Ministry of HEALTH reported that a total of 81 deaths (to date only 20 have been confirmed HINI related) and 1324 cases of suspected swine flu. The Mayor of Mexico canceled large public events and advised citizens to avoid large public gatherings for the next ten days. Embassy Mexico will suspend all non-essential public services through April 30. ¶2. (U) MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ACTIONS: -------------- President Calderon April 24 acknowledged the seriousness of the problem Mexico is facing. The GOM is working together with an international committee composed of WHO, PAHO and CDC experts and international consultants. The priority is to profile the confirmed swine flu cases and carry out contact studies. The WHO has publicly stated that the most effective way to combat the illness is through retrovirals and that there is no effective vaccine. The GOM is working to standardize case definitions, notification procedures and reporting. Operational teams may soon be deployed to other Mexican states to work with local authorities and medical staff. In a joint press conference April 25, the Secretaries of Health, Labor, Labor, Economy and Education announced that schools in the Federal District, State of Mexico and San Luis Potosi will remain closed until May 6. The GOM is discouraging parents from bringing children to work. The Secretary of Labor asked employers to be flexible with absenteeism due to illness and childcare issues and encouraged employers to consider allowing employees to telecommute. The Mayor of Mexico City announced April 25 that the Federal District will cancel public events in venues it controls and closed museums and other attractions. The Mayor indicated that measures to minimize the congregation of large numbers of people would remain in effect for 10 days. The Federal Government issued a decree April 25 which gives the HEALTH Ministry full authority to enter homes and private buildings and isolate the sick. Authorities will be able to inspect people, luggage, and any other device that could pose any risk of contagion. They can also temporarily close shows or entertainment centers. HEALTH authorities will also have priority for the use of public communications systems as well as public transportation. The HEALTH Ministry will update the President regularly will be responsible for coordinating all the actions in the government to control the problem. Warnings, alerts and a guideline of actions to prevent the illness are being distributed via television, radio, newspapers and public address systems at the airport and bus stations. The federal government distributed surveys at the airport to passengers and advised those with flu symptoms not to travel. The Ministry of HEALTH is convening a high level meeting with state government authorities on April 26. Requests for USG assistance have been verbally expressed. We expect to soon receive detailed written requests. The Ministry of Finance has extended the deadline for filing tax returns from April 30 until June. MEXICO 00001172 002 OF 004 ¶3. (U) ACTIONS BY NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: -------------- -------------- The Catholic Church confirmed that mass will not be canceled but that it will be shorter, that priests will eliminate the shaking of hands for the peace ritual and that no communion cup will be offered. The press reports bars and restaurants have also closed and that in total over 500 public events in Mexico City have been canceled ¶4. (SBU) STATISTICS: -------------- As of COB April 25, the Mexican Ministry of HEALTH reported: --1324 cases accumulated of Influenza (all types) --81 deaths (most of which were in the Federal District) --23 cases confirmed as swine flu by Canada and CDC Most deaths involve patients between the ages of 20 and 50 years. No children have died. Statistics as reported by State: cases and deaths Auguascalientes 3, 0 Baja 14, 2 Baja sur 0, 0 Campeche 0, 0 Coahuila 0, 0 Colima 0, 0 Chiapas 3, 0 Chihuahua 3, 0 DF 456, 41 Durango N/A Guanajuato N/A Guerrero N/A Hidalgo 1, 0 Jalisco 6, 0 State of Mexico 188, 3 Michoacan N/A Morelos N/A Nuevo Leon 0,0 Nayarit 6, 0 Oaxaca 1, 1 Puebla 0, 0 Queretaro 2, 1 Quintana Roo 1, 0 San Luis Potosi 50, 7 Sinaloa N/A Information on the gravity of current, existing cases is not well compiled. The Mexicans HEALTH data collection and analysis system is not well equipped to gathering statistics quickly. Anecdotally, a physician with good contacts to the Embassy confirmed that 4 patients with serious HINI influenza as of April 23 at a private Federal District hospital which caters to wealthier Mexicans. The patients, aged 20 to 49, were all on ventilators and ONE had a co-morbidity. ONE of the patients has since died and the others remain in intensive care. ¶5. (U) MANAGEMENT ISSUES: -------------- A truncated EAC met April 25. The EAC decided to allow liberal leave for employees the week of April 27 if the government announces that schools will remain closed. The EAC also decided that surgical masks would be provided to MEXICO 00001172 003 OF 004 employees and EFMs upon request. The Embassy purchased an additional 4,000 masks locally on April 24 and expects additional supplies from Washington by the end of the week. ¶6. (U) SECURITY ISSUES: -------------- RSO will provide first-responder refresher training. RSO is also working with GOM security elements to develop contingency plans should there be significant guard absences. RSO is collecting information on emergency supplies as well as possible vendors. ¶7. (U) CONSULAR ISSUES: -------------- The EAC decided April 25 to support the City of Mexico,s decision to limit the congregation of large crowds by suspending all non-essential public services April 27-30. During that time, consular services for U.S. citizens will be limited to citizenship applications and emergency assistance only. All non-immigrant visa services will be suspended for the week. The Embassy,s Benjamin Franklin Library will be closed to the public during this time. The Embassy issued a warden message and a press release with this information on April 25. The warden message will also be posted on the Embassy website. The Embassy received fewer than 25 flu related calls on April ¶25. Most of the callers were inquiring if there are travel restrictions to the U.S. ¶8. (U) BORDER ISSUES: -------------- The majority of reported cases are in Central Mexico, especially the state of Mexico and the Federal District. San Luis Potosi in Central Mexico reported April 25 that it will close schools across the state. We have received no reports of growing concerns in Northern Mexican communities. ¶9. (U) MEDIA REACTION/GENERAL POPULATION SENTIMENTS: -------------- -------------- Mexican news reports on Saturday, April 25, focused on the measures being taken by the City of Mexico to prevent the growth of the H1N1 swine flu outbreak and the growing fear that it has created in Mexico and abroad. Several reports noted the participation of a team from the Centers for Disease Control in Mexico,s efforts to identify and contain the virus. Leading daily Reforma,s coverage was extensive. It noted that in the U.S., federal and state governments were on the alert for signs of H1N1, especially along the border, and highlighted that the flu epidemic plan of the Security and Prosperity Partnership had been activated and information sharing between the U.S., Canada and Mexico was intense and ongoing. Reforma also reported that after a second press conference at Los Pinos, the Secretary of HEALTH stated that according to the WHO there is no vaccine that can be helpful to prevent transmission, but antiviral drugs should be applied in cases of a positive diagnosis. Other papers also reported that the WHO would hold an emergency meeting soon. Excelsior ran an opinion column lauding President Calderon,s actions to stop the outbreak, and Milenio lauded the cooperation between the Mexico City and Federal governments. According to the press there are 433 cases in 17 states across Mexico, and at least 22 deaths that can be attributed to H1N1. Reforma also reported that Chile, Nicaragua, Peru, MEXICO 00001172 004 OF 004 Costa Rica and Colombia have activated preventive measures. ¶10. (U) ECONOMIC IMPACT -------------- Hotels in Mexico have reported a 20 percent cancellation rate this weekend. Most of these had been made by Mexicans from other states. The restaurant industry says it is expecting a 15 percent drop in profit and many restaurants have reported larger than usual numbers of cancellations. The Secretary of Economy met with an important umbrella business organization, the Business Coordination Council (CCE) on April 25. The CCE supports the government's actions and reported that it would be flexible on labor absenteeism. The Mexican Banking Association instructed banks and their subsidiaries to urge any client to return home if sick to prevent infecting coworkers or other customers. On April 25, the Mayor of Mexico City announced that the Federal District will cancel public events in venues it controls and closed museums and other attractions belonging to the city over the weekend. The Mayor indicated that measures to minimize the congregation of large numbers of people would remain in effect for 10 days. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / BASSETT