TFFLU01: OMAN'S MINISTRY OF HEALTH ACES FIRST H1N1 TEST

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000653 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD NEA/PPD PAGNEW DBENZE TFK PAO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR, AMGT, MU SUBJECT: TFFLU01: OMAN'S MINISTRY OF HEALTH ACES FIRST H1N1 TEST REFTEL: STATE 63491 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Five days after Oman's Ministry of Health confirmed three H1N1 cases among returning YES students, no additional cases have arisen. The students are reportedly in 'fine' condition, according to the Ministry. The MoH's reaction, beginning with the alert from AmidEast and the Embassy, demonstrate its readiness to effectively respond to H1N1, at least on a small scale. End Summary. EVENT SUMMARY ¶2. (U) On Tuesday, June 16, AmidEast contacted the 9 Omani YES participants to alert them to the possibility of H1N1, eventually reaching five students by end of day. Embassy Muscat alerted the Ministry of Health (and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education) on June 16. By the morning of Wednesday, June 17, the MoH had tracked down eight of the nine students and tested the six in country (two had already departed Oman for onward travel). By end of day, the MoH contacted and tested the final student. ¶3. (SBU) Late morning on June 17, roughly 24 hours after the alert from the Embassy, the MoH had confirmed three cases of H1N1 and initiated response measures: students and their families were placed under home quarantine and issued Tamiflu; the MoH identified a spokesperson, diligently deferring inquiries to that one person; by early evening, the MoH made first public confirmation of the three cases via text message to cell phones; the MoH spokesperson appeared on evening radio and television; and a statement by the MoH ran front page of all daily papers the next morning. The Ministry's straightforward message stated confirmation of the three cases, declared the patients in stable condition and noted they would be kept under home quarantine. STUDENT TV APPEARANCES EASE FEARS ¶4. (U) On June 17, the same day as the confirmations, Oman TV interviewed one of the confirmed cases via phone. The student said that she felt fine, and that she had just returned from the U.S. on a program through the U.S. Embassy. On June 21, another of the three students, visibly in good health, appeared on Oman TV for an interview. She described feeling slightly ill for a few days, but said that the flu quickly passed. From subsequent online postings and conversations with contacts, it is evident that these interviews went a long distance in allaying the public's fears of the appearance of H1N1 in Oman. NO CHANGE IN OFFICIAL PROCEDURES ¶5. (U) The Ministry's point person on H1N1 said that Oman would not implement any changes to existing procedures as a result of these confirmed cases. Currently, all international passengers arriving at Muscat International Airport or Salalah International Airport are scanned by thermal imaging devices. Passengers must also fill out declaration forms upon arrival flagging flu-like symptoms and countries visited. Medical staff is on standby at both airports to conduct tests and implement 24 hour quarantining if deemed necessary. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Oman's bureaucracy is not known for transparency, proactive public communication, or fast action, yet the Ministry of Health's reaction to these H1N1 cases was timely and effective, especially in managing the public response. The Ministry has demonstrated that, when it comes to public health and H1N1, it can act fast and get the right information to the public. End Comment. HURTADO