TFFLU01: BALI'S REACTION TO THE H1N1 INFLUENZA THREAT

UNCLAS SURABAYA 000045

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PINR, AMGT, EAGR, PGOV, KLIG, MG, ID
SUBJECT: TFFLU01: BALI'S REACTION TO THE H1N1 INFLUENZA THREAT

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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