Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIYADH933
2009-07-18 04:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
H1N1 UPDATE: 232 CASES, OUTBREAKS IN INTERNATIONAL
how-toVZCZCXRO0700 PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHRH #0933 1990439 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 180439Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1203 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS RIYADH 000933
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TBIO KFLU CASC ASEC AMGT SA
SUBJECT: H1N1 UPDATE: 232 CASES, OUTBREAKS IN INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOLS, SMS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
UNCLAS RIYADH 000933
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TBIO KFLU CASC ASEC AMGT SA
SUBJECT: H1N1 UPDATE: 232 CASES, OUTBREAKS IN INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOLS, SMS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
1. (SBU) The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced July 14 that
the number of confirmed cases of H1N1 in Saudi Arabia since
June 3 has risen to 232. There have been no known H1N1
fatalities to date and 90 percent of those infected
reportedly have recovered fully. The Ministry of Education,
at the request of the MOH, closed an unnamed international
school in Riyadh July 13 after 20 students tested positive
for H1N1. Five additional students at the school were
diagnosed the following day and Health Ministry spokesman
Khaled Al-Mirghalani subsequently announced the launch of
what he described as a "huge" health awareness campaign
targeting schools when they reopen after Ramadan. The
Ministry also launched an awareness campaign with the
Kingdom's three main cell phone operators -- Saudi Telecom,
Mobily, and Zain -- which uses SMS text messages to encourage
preventive health measures. The campaign reportedly has
reached 20 million people to date.
ERDMAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TBIO KFLU CASC ASEC AMGT SA
SUBJECT: H1N1 UPDATE: 232 CASES, OUTBREAKS IN INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOLS, SMS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
1. (SBU) The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced July 14 that
the number of confirmed cases of H1N1 in Saudi Arabia since
June 3 has risen to 232. There have been no known H1N1
fatalities to date and 90 percent of those infected
reportedly have recovered fully. The Ministry of Education,
at the request of the MOH, closed an unnamed international
school in Riyadh July 13 after 20 students tested positive
for H1N1. Five additional students at the school were
diagnosed the following day and Health Ministry spokesman
Khaled Al-Mirghalani subsequently announced the launch of
what he described as a "huge" health awareness campaign
targeting schools when they reopen after Ramadan. The
Ministry also launched an awareness campaign with the
Kingdom's three main cell phone operators -- Saudi Telecom,
Mobily, and Zain -- which uses SMS text messages to encourage
preventive health measures. The campaign reportedly has
reached 20 million people to date.
ERDMAN