SAUDI GOVERNMENT BRIEFS DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 001510 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP (HARRIS, BERNDT) DEPT PASS TO CDC FOR SCOTT MCNABB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TBIO KFLU CASC ASEC BEXP SA SUBJECT: SAUDI GOVERNMENT BRIEFS DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY ON H1N1 REF: A. RIYADH 761 ¶B. RIYADH 800 ¶C. RIYADH 837 ¶D. RIYADH 871 ¶E. RIYADH 901 ¶F. RIYADH 929 ¶G. RIYADH 933 ¶H. RIYADH 959 ¶I. RIYADH 979 ¶J. RIYADH 1023 ¶K. RIYADH 1045 ¶L. RIYADH 1049 ¶M. RIYADH 1082 ¶N. RIYADH 1213 ¶O. RIYADH 1417 ¶P. SECSTATE 114494 ¶Q. JAKARTA 1465 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Officials from the Saudi Ministries of Health (MOH) and Foreign Affairs (MFA) briefed members of the diplomatic community in Riyadh on their H1N1 preparedness on November 4. The SAG highlighted the important role that international collaboration, particularly with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),has played in their H1N1 preparedness and awareness efforts to date. The SAG emphasized that their first priority is to keep Hajj pilgrims safe and healthy, and said they are distributing vaccine shipments accordingly as they arrive. Only two H1N1 cases have been reported among the half million pilgrims who have arrived in the Kingdom as of November 8. Saudi Arabia is receiving shipments of the 5 million doses of H1N1 vaccine on order in batches, although shipments worldwide have been delayed due to production delays associated with the seed virus, Memish said. English language papers reported the launch of the immunization campaign November 8. H1N1 Prevention Efforts and the Hajj -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Representatives from over 100 diplomatic missions were invited by the MFA to voice questions and concerns about H1N1 preparedness for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage season. MFA Deputy for Consular Affairs Ambassador Abdulrahman Al-Soloum and Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for Preventive Medicine Dr. Ziad Memish gave a detailed overview of the Saudi government's prevention, awareness, and cooperation efforts to reduce the spread of H1N1. Memish outlined Saudi efforts since the first case of H1N1 emerged in May. He said 27,000 H1N1 cases had been reported in Saudi Arabia to date, though only 6,800 cases had been lab-confirmed. Of the 20,400 clinical cases to date, there have been 66 mortalities as of November 1. The age and sex distribution, as well as the risk factors, are the same as is being reported by the rest of the world, Memish said. ¶3. (SBU) Memish outlined specific prevention efforts for the Hajj, including thermal cameras and quarantine facilities at Jeddah's international airport and seaport. He said that Saudi Arabia had "plenty" of antivirals, as well as an adequate supply of beds, ventilators, and personnel to handle the pandemic. Only two H1N1 cases have been reported among the half million pilgrims who have arrived in the Kingdom as of November 8. Memish noted the Umrah pilgrimage season saw minimal cases and no H1N1-related deaths. Role of International Community -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Memish highlighted the role international cooperation played in assisting his Ministry's efforts. The June 27 to 30 international consultation on infectious disease prevention and control at Umrah and Hajj included valuable participation by delegates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO),he said. Memish also highlighted ongoing collaboration with CDC on the development and deployment of a disease surveillance system. He noted that Saudi and U.S. health officials had co-authored papers in both Science Express and the Lancet. Ambassador Smith has met with several CDC health experts visiting Riyadh, and attended CDC's "proof of concept" launch at the National Guard Health Affairs. RIYADH 00001510 002 OF 002 ¶5. (SBU) Memish emphasized several times that though King Abdullah had approved the fifteen recommendations of the June H1N1 preparedness conference in Jeddah, they remained recommendations. He said the enforcement of the recommendations was the responsibility of the countries of origin, who may decide on their own if they want to restrict travel, for example, of vulnerable groups such as the pregnant and the infirm. Saudi Arabia, however, would not turn anyone away at its ports of entry based on H1N1 risk factors. Vaccine Distribution Prioritizes Hajj -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Saudi Arabia is receiving shipments of the 5 million doses of H1N1 vaccine on order in batches, although shipments worldwide have been delayed due to production delays associated with the seed virus, Memish said. English language papers reported the launch of the immunization campaign November 8. Minister of Health Rabeeah received the first vaccine himself and gave the second to his daughter, Hana. One million doses will reportedly cover the first stage of the campaign, which will prioritize public and private sector workers involved in the Hajj, especially in Mecca and Medina. Memish said the MOH will prioritize vaccinating Hajj pilgrims, health care workers, civil aviation employees, and defense workers. The next shipment of vaccines will be prioritized for school-age children, he said. Saudi Arabia will not require certificates of H1N1 vaccination for pilgrims at ports of entry, but strongly recommends pilgrims be vaccinated if their respective countries of origin have licensed vaccines available. Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) This briefing was consistent with the Ministry of Health's transparent, collaborative approach to H1N1 pandemic preparedness to date. In their role as the host to millions of Umrah and Hajj pilgrims every year, the SAG takes health risks associated with mass gatherings seriously. The SAG's level of international engagement on H1N1 and health sector development broadly is largely the result of Minister Rabeeah and Deputy Minister Memish's leadership at the MOH. SMITH