Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIYADH1082
2009-08-21 13:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUQ H1N1 UPDATE: SAG PROVIDES TREATMENT FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO8235 PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHRH #1082 2331345 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 211345Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1419 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 2744 RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 0779 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY
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
--------------------------------------------- -----
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
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