Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TAIPEI1010
2009-08-19 08:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

H1N1 UPDATE: SECOND DEATH RECORDED AS CASES TOP

Tags:  AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC KFLU KFLO TBIO XE TW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6001
PP RUEHAST RUEHCN RUEHDH RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
RUEHSL RUEHTM RUEHTRO RUEHVC
DE RUEHIN #1010/01 2310854
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190854Z AUG 09
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2154
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 4683
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RHMFIUU/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 2747
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001010 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/IHA, OES/IHB FOR AMB LOFTIS, HHS FOR MARK
ABDOO, CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID, BANGKOK FOR CDC BAGGETT,
USDA/FAS FOR OFSO/WAINIO OSTA/HAMILTON, OCRA/BEILLARD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC KFLU KFLO TBIO XE TW
SUBJECT: H1N1 UPDATE: SECOND DEATH RECORDED AS CASES TOP
9,000

REF: A. TAIPEI 756 AND PREVIOUS

B. DEPT OF STATE COMMUNITY "MADE IN TAIWAN" POSTINGS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001010

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/IHA, OES/IHB FOR AMB LOFTIS, HHS FOR MARK
ABDOO, CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID, BANGKOK FOR CDC BAGGETT,
USDA/FAS FOR OFSO/WAINIO OSTA/HAMILTON, OCRA/BEILLARD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC KFLU KFLO TBIO XE TW
SUBJECT: H1N1 UPDATE: SECOND DEATH RECORDED AS CASES TOP
9,000

REF: A. TAIPEI 756 AND PREVIOUS

B. DEPT OF STATE COMMUNITY "MADE IN TAIWAN" POSTINGS


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Taiwan authorities estimate there are over
9,000 individuals in Taiwan currently infected with H1N1. The
island recorded its second H1N1 death last week, and a
further three individuals are still hospitalized with severe
cases. Taiwan CDC (TCDC) is reviewing treatment guidelines
after Taiwan this week reported its first severe case in a
pregnant woman. The Adimmune Corporation is reportedly on
track to deliver 5 million doses of H1N1 vaccine production
by the end of October. TCDC has not reported an up-tick in
H1N1 infections in areas affected by Typhoon Morakot, but
notes that conditions in displaced-persons shelters could
facilitate the transmission of new cases. END SUMMARY.

--------------
Taiwan Records Second H1N1 Death
--------------


2. (SBU) On August 15, Taiwan recorded its second H1N1 death:
a six year-old girl from southern Taiwan. (Note: the island's
first death case was a 39 year-old male from northern Taiwan,
who passed away on July 30 (Reftel b). End note.) The young
girl developed flu-like symptoms on July 25 and was checked
into a medical care center five days later. After two weeks
of intensive care her symptoms worsened and she eventually
succumbed to her illness. Meanwhile, on August 15, Taiwan
CDC (TCDC) announced its first severe case of H1N1 in a
pregnant woman. The 25 year-old female, who is 24 weeks
pregnant, developed flu-like symptoms on August 9. Her
situation progressed into pneumonia on August 13, and she was
subsequently confirmed to be carrying H1N1. This patient is
still under intensive care. TCDC is working with the Taiwan
Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology to develop treatment
guidelines for pregnant women, who are at a higher risk for
H1N1 infection. TCDC recommends pregnant women receive
priority for vaccinations, and will post new guidelines on
its website when they are approved. In total, TCDC has
confirmed 25 severe cases of H1N1 island-wide. Of these, 19
patients have been treated and discharged, one remains in a
public ward of the hospital, three are still in intensive
care, and two have died.


3. (SBU) TCDC confirmed on August 17 the largest H1N1 cluster
infection so far in Taiwan. 374 new military draftees at a
training center in Taichung developed flu-like symptoms on
August 17, and TCDC has confirmed 81 are carrying H1N1. TCDC
says these patients are all exhibiting mild symptoms and the
situation is under control. TCDC reports that there have
been a total of 43 H1N1 cluster infections in Taiwan, and
estimates the total number of individuals infected with H1N1
island-wide has reached at least 9,000.


4. (SBU) TCDC Deputy Director Lin Ding confirmed to us that
on October 1, TCDC will begin providing 2.99 million doses of
free seasonal flu vaccine to the public, with people over 65,
children between six months old and the fourth grade, medical
personnel, animal husbandry workers, nursing home workers,
and patients with rare or severe diseases receiving priority
for inoculation. Lin added that TCDC has contracted Adimmune
Corporation, the Taiwan company producing an H1N1 vaccine, to
provide 5 million doses to TCDC by the end of October. The
company is reportedly producing 200,000 doses daily and will
begin human clinical trials in early October.

--------------
Morakot Not Impacting H1N1 (So Far)
--------------


5. (SBU) A TCDC official said there are currently no signs of
increased H1N1 infection in areas affected by Typhoon
Morakot, but warned of an increased likelihood of cluster
infections in displaced-persons shelters. Deputy Director
Lin told us that following the typhoon, medical booths were
set up in disaster areas, and that TCDC issued a waiver of
H1N1 lab testing for flood victims so that they can receive
Tamiflu if doctors suspect the possibility of H1N1 infection.
In addition, TCDC is providing free tetanus shots to
soldiers and volunteers helping in relief efforts, because

TAIPEI 00001010 002 OF 002


skin traumas are relatively common among relief workers.
Separately, Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao
Zhi-guo, who is overseeing emergency operations from Taipei,
told us last week TCDC has been effectively communicating
with donors, and that there are no medicine shortages. Mao
said some donated medicines were accepted but had to be
discarded later because of improper labeling or
non-compliance with Taiwan pharmaceuticals health and safety
standards.
WANG