Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO402
2009-04-28 20:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

CHILE'S SWINE FLU RESPONSE -- AIRPORT SCREENING AND

Tags:  AMGT AMED CASC TBIO KFLU KSAF KSEAO KPAO KSTH ECON 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1333
OO RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHSG #0402/01 1182054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 282054Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4868
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2335
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTIAGO 000402 

STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC AND OES/IHB
STATE FOR MED

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT AMED CASC TBIO KFLU KSAF KSEAO KPAO KSTH ECON
EAGR, CI
SUBJECT: CHILE'S SWINE FLU RESPONSE -- AIRPORT SCREENING AND
MEDICAL READINESS

REFS: State 41768

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTIAGO 000402

STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC AND OES/IHB
STATE FOR MED

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT AMED CASC TBIO KFLU KSAF KSEAO KPAO KSTH ECON
EAGR, CI
SUBJECT: CHILE'S SWINE FLU RESPONSE -- AIRPORT SCREENING AND
MEDICAL READINESS

REFS: State 41768


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: No human cases of swine flu have been reported in
Chile. The Chilean government on April 24 began scanning passengers
arriving from Mexico and the U.S. at Santiago's International
Airport, for fevers using non-invasive fever detectors. Consul
General observed the screening process and characterized it as
organized and professional. According to the Ministry of Health,
suspected cases of swine flu will be transferred to a local hospital
for further virological screening and observation. The GOC also
recommended Chileans not travel to Mexico and the U.S. Embassy
Santiago established a Swine Flu Working Group (SFWG) to coordinate
post's information dissemination and response to the health threat.
End summary.

National Health Emergency Committee Activated
--------------


2. (U) In reaction to the World Health Organization (WHO) warning of
an outbreak of swine influenza in the U.S. and Mexico, Chile's
Ministry of Health on April 23 activated the National Committee for
Emergency Response to Outbreak and Disease. According to Ministry
of Health officials, Chile has adapted its national preparedness
plan for pandemic influenza, which outlines strategic measures for
health care personnel and the general population, to the current
situation.

No Confirmed Swine Flu Cases in Chile
--------------


3. (U) There are no confirmed human cases of swine flu reported in
Chile and the Chileans have used clinical testing to rule out
several cases of concern. The Ministry of Health reported on April
24 that there were three unconfirmed cases of flu under clinical
review in Chile. Minister of Health Alvaro Erazo reported on April
26 that two of the three cases had undergone two virological
diagnostic tests (IFI and PCR) with negative results. According to

Erazo, the third patient had negative PCR results and was awaiting
further test results.

Airport Fever Scanning: Organized and Professional
-------------- --------------


4. (U) The Ministry of Health established on April 24 a "sanitary
barrier" for entry into Chile by requiring all travelers from Mexico
and United States be evaluated at the International Airport Arturo
Merino Benitez, using a thermal fever scanner. The GOC also stated
that all travelers from affected areas showing symptoms of
respiratory illness, such as fever, muscle aches, headaches, etc.,
will be immediately transferred for evaluation from the airport to
the Hospital del Torax, in the case of adults or the Calvo Mackenna
Hospital, in the case of children.


5. (U) On April 28, CG Chris Bendsen visited Santiago's airport and
observed health officials screening passengers arriving from Mexico
City. He characterized the operation as "very organized and
professional." Health officials told him about ten flights per day
are being checked and they have screened approximately 3000
passengers since April 24. [Note: Total domestic and international
arrivals at the airport are around 8000 passengers per day. End
note.] The Chilean authorities explained that the current screening
process was originally developed in response to concerns about avian
flu. Bendsen noted Health Ministry officials were very cooperative
but exhausted; six to ten staff are now working in eight hour
shifts, but some staff worked longer hours over the weekend.


6. (U) Travelers on flights from Mexico and the U.S., including
crew, complete a declaration and are screened using a thermal fever
scanner (reportedly one of the only such scanners in use in Latin
America). The passengers wait in the dedicated arrival lounge until
every passenger has been screened. The process for about 200 people
arriving from Mexico took about 40 minutes. Officials noted that
passengers arriving from Mexico are also screened before departing
Mexico. Bendsen observed that about a third to half of arriving
passengers were wearing surgical masks and all of the health
officials and airport staff were wearing masks and some wore

SANTIAGO 00000402 002 OF 003


surgical gloves.

Airport Procedures For Suspect Cases
--------------


7. (U) Passengers who test positive for a fever are referred to a
medical station where their temperature is taken with an ear
thermometer and a doctor takes their medical history. No passengers
on the observed Mexico flight were referred to the medical station.
Since the screening began, 22 passengers have passed through the
medical station but no one has been transferred to the designated
government hospitals.


8. (U) In the event that a suspect case is identified, all
passengers on the flight will be given a detailed briefing of
symptoms and how to inform the Health Ministry in the event of
possible illness. The declaration asks for detailed information
about each passenger's planned whereabouts for the following seven
days.

GOC Distributing Antivirals
--------------


9. (U) The National Committee revealed on April 24 that the
country's stock of antivirals was being distributed to health
centers. These doses are in addition to the 36,000 treatments
already distributed to centers in anticipation of a possible avian
flu pandemic.

GOC Disseminating Public Health Information
--------------


10. (U) Media coverage throughout the weekend focused on the swine
flu alert, repeating messages to remain calm and take basic
precautions, such as hand-washing. In addition, the Ministry of
Health's website issued recommendations similar to the Center for
Disease Control in Atlanta, and it warns travelers to "avoid
visiting places affected to date (Mexico, United States)." The
website provided the following public information resources:

Health Responses: (+56) 600-360-7777
Ministry of Health: www.minsal.cl; www.pandemia.cl
World Health Organization: www.who.int/es

Embassy Swine Flu Working Group Taking Action
--------------


11. (SBU) Post established an Embassy Swine Flu Working Group (SFWG)
composed of DCM, E/POL, MGMT, PA, FAS, MED/Health Unit and CONS
representatives. On April 27, the SFWG met and decided to take the
following measures:

(a) Place on the Embassy web site Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
information about swine flu with recommendations in both English and
Spanish (Action: PA);
(b) Send an Embassy-wide email with information from MED and CDC on
how to take precautions (Action: MGMT, Health Unit);
(c) Send same preventative information on swine flu to all Wardens
(Action: CONS);
(d) Visit airport to consult and view measures the GOC is taking
there to prevent spread of swine flu, including temperature
screening of passengers on some arriving flights (Action: CONS);
(e) Consult with Health Ministry, specifically Under Secretary
Jeanette Vega, about measures the GOC is taking (Action: FAS,
EPOL);
(f) Inventory medications and supplies and personal protective gear,
e.g., mask, gloves, gowns (Action: Health Unit);
(g) Check status of U.S. Armed Service visitor who arrived in
country with flu symptoms on Thursday, April 23, and was directed to
a local health clinic for appropriate testing and treatment (Action:
Health Unit).


12. (SBU) All of these actions have been completed except for the
meeting with the Ministry of Health, which will take place late on
April 28 and reported septel. The visitor who arrived on April 23
tested negative for swine flu.

SANTIAGO 00000402 003 OF 003




13. (SBU) The SFWG will meet daily as long as the situation
warrants.
URBAN