TFFLU01: BALI'S REACTION TO THE H1N1 INFLUENZA THREAT

UNCLAS SURABAYA 000045 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG, L/DL, EAP/EX, AND OES/IHA USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH DEPT ALSO PASS TO DOJ FOR OFL GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN USDA/FAS/OSTA BRANT, ROSENBLUM USDA/APHIS ANNELLI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU CASC AEMR ASEC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR, AMGT, EAGR, PGOV, KLIG, MG, ID SUBJECT: TFFLU01: BALI'S REACTION TO THE H1N1 INFLUENZA THREAT Parts of this message are sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (U) Summary. While there are no reports of H1N1 infected persons on the Hindu tourist island of Bali, local Airport, Health, and Department of Animal Husbandry officials are all reportedly prepared for the possibility of H1N1 cases in Bali. Airport officials are utilizing thermal scanning equipment at airport immigration check points. Health officials have designated specific hospitals to handle suspected cases of H1N1. Department of Animal Husbandry officials have educated local hog farmers regarding sanitation issues. End Summary. ¶2. (U) According to media reports, local authorities in Bali have taken steps to prevent the spread of H1N1 influenza to the island. As there are no reports of H1N1 in Bali, efforts have focused on the arrival of possibly infected individuals at the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar and the prevention of infection and spread among the local hog population. According to immigration statistics, approximately 6000 foreign nationals arrive in Bali daily. The Department of Animal Husbandry reports that the current hog population in Bali is around 925,000 hogs with a majority of hog owners owning only one or two hogs. ¶3. (U) Authorities at the Ngurah Rai International Airport have put equipment and a contingency plan in place to mitigate the threat of the spread of H1N1 to Bali. The airport reportedly set up a small field hospital in a tent on the premises with health care workers divided into three shifts to handle any suspected H1N1 cases. Should a passenger have a temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius, as indicated by thermal scanning equipment, the passenger would then be screened to determine the countries the individual visited recently and if he/she potentially came into contact with the virus. Should the individual prove to be a suspect H1N1 case, the passenger would be transported by ambulance to Sanglah General Hospital for isolation and all other passengers from the same flight would potentially be quarantined and screened for infection. Local Health Department officials designated the Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar, Tabanan General Hospital, and Sanjiwani General Hospital in Gianyar as hospitals to care for suspected H1N1 patients. ¶4. (SBU) In addition to the steps taken by airport and Health Department officials, officials with the local Department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Oceans in the city of Denpasar and regencies of Badung and Tabanan have reportedly taken steps to prevent the possibility of swine to human contamination. Efforts by animal husbandry officials include educating hog owners about the cleanliness and health of their animals, providing disinfectant, and advising farmers to clean and disinfect pens twice daily. Officials have also looked into the sanitation practices of the five registered pork packing plants in Bali. One local veterinarian who is known to the Consular Agency, however, mentioned that none of the small hog farms that she is familiar with have been contacted by officials. ¶5. (SBU) Post has not received any reports of American citizen visitors to Bali being adversely affected by the airport's screening procedures. Post is only aware of one foreign national who was considered a potential carrier, a reporter from China who arrived to cover the Asian Development Bank (ADB) conference being held May 2 - 5. After questioning, officials determined that he had not traveled to infected areas and allowed him to continue his journey. MCCLELLAND