FOUR AH1N1 DEATHS REPORTED IN ECUADOR

UNCLAS QUITO 000597 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC AMED KFLU ETRD EAGR ECON EC SUBJECT: FOUR AH1N1 DEATHS REPORTED IN ECUADOR ¶1. (SBU) The GOE Ministry of Health (MOH) reported that four Ecuadorian citizens have died from AH1N1 influenza in the past week. The cases occurred in Chimborazo, Azuay, Tungurahua, and Pichincha provinces of Ecuador. Two of the cases involved patients who received treatment in rural private clinics and were identified as suffering from AH1N1 flu too late to receive appropriate treatment. Embassy medical personnel have learned that neither of these patients was treated with Tamiflu. The third fatality was a 74-year-old man who received treatment at a government-run hospital in the city of Riobamba. This patient is reported to have had underlying medical conditions that likely aggravated his illness. The fourth case was a 48-year-old maternity nurse in Quito who also appears initially to have received inadequate treatment in a private clinic. She was eventually diagnosed as suffering from a chronic lung condition and was transferred to a government hospital, where she died. In response to these deaths, the MOH has reiterated to hospitals the need to refer suspicious cases for testing as early as possible. ¶2. (SBU) The MOH reports that there have been 264 confirmed cases of AH1N1 flu in Ecuador. The MOH suspects that an additional 100 cases were likely AH1N1 flu, but testing was inconclusive. The Embassy believes that many influenza cases go unreported, however, so the true number of AH1N1 cases is probably much higher. The MOH believes that roughly half of the reported cases in Ecuador came from patients who contracted the illness while traveling abroad. The other half are believed to have resulted from person-to-person transmission within Ecuador. ¶3. (SBU) The Ecuadorian Military reports 8 confirmed cases of AH1N1 flu. In addition, the Army base "Amazonas de Shell" in the small eastern town of Pastaza has been quarantined due to AH1N1 cases. Ecuadorian Military officials have told Embassy Defense Attache that the military is taking strong measures to contain the outbreak. 1100 people are reported to work at the base, and the Embassy believes that everyone has been quarantined. Hodges