Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIYADH871
2009-07-01 14:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDI H1N1 UPDATE: 81 CASES, CDC VISITORS ADVISE
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000871
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TBIO KFLU CASC ASEC AMGT SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI H1N1 UPDATE: 81 CASES, CDC VISITORS ADVISE
ON HAJJ PREP, DEPUTY HEALTH MINISTER SACKED
REF: A. RIYADH 761
B. RIYADH 800
C. RIYADH 837
81 H1N1 CASES TO DATE
---------------------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000871
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TBIO KFLU CASC ASEC AMGT SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI H1N1 UPDATE: 81 CASES, CDC VISITORS ADVISE
ON HAJJ PREP, DEPUTY HEALTH MINISTER SACKED
REF: A. RIYADH 761
B. RIYADH 800
C. RIYADH 837
81 H1N1 CASES TO DATE
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 30, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced
that the number of confirmed cases of H1N1 in Saudi Arabia
since June 3 has risen to 81. There have been no known H1N1
fatalities to date in the country, and 39 H1N1 patients had
been released from hospitals as of June 24. Several patients
were identified as H1N1-positive upon return from travel to
Australia, Brunei, Canada, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, the
Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United
States, and the remainder were infected upon close contact
with infected returning travelers. H1N1-infected persons
reportedly have ranged in age from 2 months to 56 years,
including 19 under the age of 10. Nineteen of the reported
H1N1 cases have been health workers, mostly Filipino and
Malaysian nurses.
CDC ADVISES ON HAJJ PREPARATIONS
--------------
2. (SBU) The MOH, at the King's order, asked for U.S.
assistance with H1N1 preparations for the Hajj (expected to
fall November 25-30),and subsequently held a June 27-30 H1N1
workshop in Jeddah with the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC),World Health Organization (WHO),EU CDC, and
Australian Health Protection Center. The health experts
visited the Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International
Airport, seaports of entry, and laboratory facilities, and
then divided into 8 working groups to discuss preventive
measures during the Hajj.
3. (SBU) In a July 1 debrief at Consulate General Jeddah, CDC
head of delegation Dr. Scott McNabb said the Ministry
conducted the H1N1 discussions in a "transparent, open,
scientific way." CDC delegation members said current Saudi
border screening and quarantine was state of the art, but
cautioned that laboratory facilities and holding areas at
entry points would be insufficient for the nearly three
million Hajj pilgrims expected (one-third Saudi, two-thirds
foreign). The delegation discussed scenarios with the MOH,
like a change in the severity of the virus in the fall, and
warned that tough decisions like cancelling the Hajj might
have to be considered. McNabb said the Saudi health
communication campaign, which emphasizes personal
responsibility and hygiene, has been "outstanding." The MOH
held a press conference June 30 to announce the workshop's 15
recommendations, though press reports focused only on one of
the recommendations -- that children, pregnant women, the
elderly, and those with chronic diseases skip the Hajj this
year.
HEALTH MINISTRY LEADERSHIP CHANGE
--------------
4. (SBU) According to press reports, the Minister of Health
reshuffled the leadership of the Ministry, and on June 29
Al-Shams reported that the Assistant Deputy Minister for
Preventive Medicine Dr. Khalid al-Zahrani was removed due to
the perceived deficient handling of H1N1 in Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Ziyad Maymash, the newly appointed Assistant Deputy
Minister, spoke at the opening of the Jeddah workshop and
said 10 new thermal detectors would be installed at Jeddah's
King Abdulaziz International Airport, the main gateway of
Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) The Saudi government, up to the highest levels, is
taking the H1N1 pandemic very seriously. It is seeking, and
doing its best to follow, international guidance on H1N1
RIYADH 00000871 002 OF 002
prevention and surveillance. Nevertheless, the Jeddah
workshop highlighted the many practical challenges of
identifying, isolating, treating, and returning home any of
the many pilgrims who become infected with the virus in the
concentrated geographic areas where the Hajj takes place.
Mitigating the potential risk of the Hajj spreading H1N1
infections far and wide will require not only additional
local preparations but also international coordination and
awareness campaigns beyond Saudi Arabia's borders. The
Kingdom's national identity is closely tied to its custody of
Islam's two holiest sites and hosting of the annual Hajj, and
we expect it will take necessary steps to prevent the
pilgrimage this fall from contributing to an otherwise
possible international public health disaster. End comment.
ERDMAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TBIO KFLU CASC ASEC AMGT SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI H1N1 UPDATE: 81 CASES, CDC VISITORS ADVISE
ON HAJJ PREP, DEPUTY HEALTH MINISTER SACKED
REF: A. RIYADH 761
B. RIYADH 800
C. RIYADH 837
81 H1N1 CASES TO DATE
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 30, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced
that the number of confirmed cases of H1N1 in Saudi Arabia
since June 3 has risen to 81. There have been no known H1N1
fatalities to date in the country, and 39 H1N1 patients had
been released from hospitals as of June 24. Several patients
were identified as H1N1-positive upon return from travel to
Australia, Brunei, Canada, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, the
Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United
States, and the remainder were infected upon close contact
with infected returning travelers. H1N1-infected persons
reportedly have ranged in age from 2 months to 56 years,
including 19 under the age of 10. Nineteen of the reported
H1N1 cases have been health workers, mostly Filipino and
Malaysian nurses.
CDC ADVISES ON HAJJ PREPARATIONS
--------------
2. (SBU) The MOH, at the King's order, asked for U.S.
assistance with H1N1 preparations for the Hajj (expected to
fall November 25-30),and subsequently held a June 27-30 H1N1
workshop in Jeddah with the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC),World Health Organization (WHO),EU CDC, and
Australian Health Protection Center. The health experts
visited the Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International
Airport, seaports of entry, and laboratory facilities, and
then divided into 8 working groups to discuss preventive
measures during the Hajj.
3. (SBU) In a July 1 debrief at Consulate General Jeddah, CDC
head of delegation Dr. Scott McNabb said the Ministry
conducted the H1N1 discussions in a "transparent, open,
scientific way." CDC delegation members said current Saudi
border screening and quarantine was state of the art, but
cautioned that laboratory facilities and holding areas at
entry points would be insufficient for the nearly three
million Hajj pilgrims expected (one-third Saudi, two-thirds
foreign). The delegation discussed scenarios with the MOH,
like a change in the severity of the virus in the fall, and
warned that tough decisions like cancelling the Hajj might
have to be considered. McNabb said the Saudi health
communication campaign, which emphasizes personal
responsibility and hygiene, has been "outstanding." The MOH
held a press conference June 30 to announce the workshop's 15
recommendations, though press reports focused only on one of
the recommendations -- that children, pregnant women, the
elderly, and those with chronic diseases skip the Hajj this
year.
HEALTH MINISTRY LEADERSHIP CHANGE
--------------
4. (SBU) According to press reports, the Minister of Health
reshuffled the leadership of the Ministry, and on June 29
Al-Shams reported that the Assistant Deputy Minister for
Preventive Medicine Dr. Khalid al-Zahrani was removed due to
the perceived deficient handling of H1N1 in Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Ziyad Maymash, the newly appointed Assistant Deputy
Minister, spoke at the opening of the Jeddah workshop and
said 10 new thermal detectors would be installed at Jeddah's
King Abdulaziz International Airport, the main gateway of
Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) The Saudi government, up to the highest levels, is
taking the H1N1 pandemic very seriously. It is seeking, and
doing its best to follow, international guidance on H1N1
RIYADH 00000871 002 OF 002
prevention and surveillance. Nevertheless, the Jeddah
workshop highlighted the many practical challenges of
identifying, isolating, treating, and returning home any of
the many pilgrims who become infected with the virus in the
concentrated geographic areas where the Hajj takes place.
Mitigating the potential risk of the Hajj spreading H1N1
infections far and wide will require not only additional
local preparations but also international coordination and
awareness campaigns beyond Saudi Arabia's borders. The
Kingdom's national identity is closely tied to its custody of
Islam's two holiest sites and hosting of the annual Hajj, and
we expect it will take necessary steps to prevent the
pilgrimage this fall from contributing to an otherwise
possible international public health disaster. End comment.
ERDMAN