SAUQ H1N1 UPDATE: SAG PROVIDES TREATMENT FOR

UNCLAS RIYADH 001082 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP (HARRIS, BERNDT) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TBIO KFLU CASC ASEC SA SUBJECT: SAUQ H1N1 UPDATE: SAG PROVIDES TREATMENT FOR ALL, NAMRU3 COOPERATION FORMALIZED, HAJJ BAN STILL PENDING REF: A. CAIRO 1552 ¶B. RIYADH 979 ¶C. DOHA 513 SAUDI GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE H1N1 TREATMENT FOR ALL -------------- -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) announced August 17 that hospitals have treated 2,000 persons in the Kingdom for H1N1. Although 14 people have died from H1N1 complications, 95 percent of those infected reportedly have recovered fully. ¶2. (SBU) King Abdullah issued an order August 15 requiring that all H1N1-infected people be treated at the government's expense. The treatment reportedly ranges in cost from 700 to 28,000 SAR ($180 to $7,500),and will be provided at both public and private hospitals. The MOH reportedly issued guidelines to private hospitals to be followed in treating H1N1 free of charge, though one press report indicates small, private polyclinics had not received any guidance. Ebrahim Al-Mana, a private hospital group owner in the Eastern Province, told Econoff the Ministry of Health was working with public and private hospitals alike on H1N1 prevention and treatment. NAMRU3 COOPERATION FORMALIZED -------------- ¶3. (SBU) At the invitation of Minister of Health Rabeeah, Cairo-based Navy Medical Research Unit 3 (NAMRU3) Commanding Officer, Captain Kenneth Earhart, visited Riyadh August 16 to sign an Executive Program for Cooperation in the Field of Health between the Saudi MOH and NAMRU3. Deputy Minister for Preventive Medicine Dr. Ziad Memish signed for the Saudi side. The agreement formalizes existing cooperation between the Ministry and NAMRU3 in the areas of infectious diseases, preventive medicine, and public health. Delegations from the Centers for Disease Control and NAMRU3 are working with the MOH to stand up a mobile epidemic surveillance system in the Kingdom, with an initial focus on Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina. HAJJ BAN STILL PENDING -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Although King Abdullah has not yet issued a decree banning vulnerable groups from participating in the Umrah and Hajj, bans from other countries continue (ref A). Memish told Econoff August 16 the decree would be signed "any day now," a message which has been repeated by officials since Arab health ministers proposed the measure July 22 (ref B). The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia said August 17 those suffering from contagious diseases like H1N1 should not perform Umrah, or go to mosques or other crowded places (ref C). COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The King's delay in signing an unprecedented outright ban on young, elderly, pregnant, and infirm pilgrims indicates the government is looking for a more palatable answer to the threat H1N1 poses to the Hajj. Although the MOH's top leadership is making policy decisions in line with WHO and CDC recommendations, implementation is not yet uniform at the operational level. END COMMENT ERDMAN