Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TAIPEI626
2009-05-26 09:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
TAIWAN CONFIRMS NINE CASES OF H1N1 FLU
how-toVZCZCXRO2522 PP RUEHAST RUEHCN RUEHDH RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO RUEHVC DE RUEHIN #0626/01 1460930 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 260930Z MAY 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1646 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 4638 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA RHMFIUU/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 2739
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000626
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS 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: TFFLU01:AEMR, AMGT, ASEC, CASC, KFLU, KFLO, TBIO, TW,
CH
SUBJECT: TAIWAN CONFIRMS NINE CASES OF H1N1 FLU
REF: TAIPEI 622 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000626
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS 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: TFFLU01:AEMR, AMGT, ASEC, CASC, KFLU, KFLO, TBIO, TW,
CH
SUBJECT: TAIWAN CONFIRMS NINE CASES OF H1N1 FLU
REF: TAIPEI 622 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Taiwan health officials have confirmed 9
cases of the H1N1 virus to date, including a case of locally
contracted H1N1 virus. Because of this first case of local
contagion, authorities have upgraded Taiwan from a pandemic
alert level of "Yellow 2" to "Yellow 3". Of the 9
individuals who have contracted H1N1, the first has already
completed treatment and was released from the hospital, while
the remaining 8 cases are still being treated. Department of
Health (DOH) Minister Yeh Ching-chuan canceled plans to
accompany President Ma to Central America and will instead
remain in Taiwan to address the H1N1 situation. More Tamiflu
dosages are being ordered in preparation for a potential H1N1
outbreak in the Fall. END SUMMARY.
EIGHT NEW H1N1 CASES WITHIN A WEEK
--------------
2. (SBU) Taiwan identified its first H1N1 case on May 20
(reftel),and the tally has now increased to 9 cases.
Although the first H1NI patient has recovered and left the
hospital May 23, the increase in cases has alarmed local
authorities, who had not expected such a rapid increase in
cases. On May 22, the sixth case was confirmed, contracted
by the daughter of case number four, (reftel) who flew to
Taiwan from Manila on May 20. The seventh case is the first
confirmed case of local contagion, a 40-year-old female who
attended a dinner at the home of case number four. Cases
eight and nine belong to Taiwan students returning from the
U.S. who took EVA airlines flight BR 007 from San Francisco
on May 23 and arrived at Taipei's Taoyuan Airport on May 24.
The two developed a fever on May 19-20. Upon arrival, the
airport temperature sensors did not detect them since their
fever had subsided. However, an alert taxi driver took them
to Taoyuan General Hospital when they described their
condition. The two were subsequently diagnosed as H1N1
positive.
MORE H1N1 FROM RETURNING STUDENTS LIKELY
--------------
3. (SBU) The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) at
Taiwan's CDC warned that as long as the outbreaks in the U.S.
and Canada continue, with the onset of summer vacations, the
increasing number of students returning to Taiwan will likely
bring a rise in H1N1 cases. H1N1 case number 6 (see par. 2)
attended school following her return from the Philippines,
and Taipei County ordered her Yungho Township school shut for
a week starting May 23.
TAIWAN IN SEPARATE WHO TALLY OF H1N1 CASES
--------------
4. (SBU) DOH Minister Yeh also said on May 25 that the WHO
website listed Taiwan H1N1 cases separately from those of the
PRC under the name "Chinese Taipei", a format which is
acceptable to Taiwan. WHO previously listed Taiwan data
under the PRC's, and Taiwan stopped providing data until this
was changed. Yeh cancelled his trip plans to Central America
with President Ma in response to the growing H1N1 threat.
MORE TAMIFLU AVAILABILITY
--------------
5. (SBU) DOH Minister Yeh also said Taiwan will procure raw
materials worth NT$ 600 million ($18 million) to manufacture
1 million doses of Tamiflu. DOH is also preparing to stock
10 million doses of Tamiflu, 2.5 million of which will be
bought from overseas and the rest manufactured domestically.
Yeh claimed the drugs could be ready by October if needed to
counter a Fall return of the H1N1 virus.
TAIPEI 00000626 002 OF 002
YOUNG
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS 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: TFFLU01:AEMR, AMGT, ASEC, CASC, KFLU, KFLO, TBIO, TW,
CH
SUBJECT: TAIWAN CONFIRMS NINE CASES OF H1N1 FLU
REF: TAIPEI 622 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Taiwan health officials have confirmed 9
cases of the H1N1 virus to date, including a case of locally
contracted H1N1 virus. Because of this first case of local
contagion, authorities have upgraded Taiwan from a pandemic
alert level of "Yellow 2" to "Yellow 3". Of the 9
individuals who have contracted H1N1, the first has already
completed treatment and was released from the hospital, while
the remaining 8 cases are still being treated. Department of
Health (DOH) Minister Yeh Ching-chuan canceled plans to
accompany President Ma to Central America and will instead
remain in Taiwan to address the H1N1 situation. More Tamiflu
dosages are being ordered in preparation for a potential H1N1
outbreak in the Fall. END SUMMARY.
EIGHT NEW H1N1 CASES WITHIN A WEEK
--------------
2. (SBU) Taiwan identified its first H1N1 case on May 20
(reftel),and the tally has now increased to 9 cases.
Although the first H1NI patient has recovered and left the
hospital May 23, the increase in cases has alarmed local
authorities, who had not expected such a rapid increase in
cases. On May 22, the sixth case was confirmed, contracted
by the daughter of case number four, (reftel) who flew to
Taiwan from Manila on May 20. The seventh case is the first
confirmed case of local contagion, a 40-year-old female who
attended a dinner at the home of case number four. Cases
eight and nine belong to Taiwan students returning from the
U.S. who took EVA airlines flight BR 007 from San Francisco
on May 23 and arrived at Taipei's Taoyuan Airport on May 24.
The two developed a fever on May 19-20. Upon arrival, the
airport temperature sensors did not detect them since their
fever had subsided. However, an alert taxi driver took them
to Taoyuan General Hospital when they described their
condition. The two were subsequently diagnosed as H1N1
positive.
MORE H1N1 FROM RETURNING STUDENTS LIKELY
--------------
3. (SBU) The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) at
Taiwan's CDC warned that as long as the outbreaks in the U.S.
and Canada continue, with the onset of summer vacations, the
increasing number of students returning to Taiwan will likely
bring a rise in H1N1 cases. H1N1 case number 6 (see par. 2)
attended school following her return from the Philippines,
and Taipei County ordered her Yungho Township school shut for
a week starting May 23.
TAIWAN IN SEPARATE WHO TALLY OF H1N1 CASES
--------------
4. (SBU) DOH Minister Yeh also said on May 25 that the WHO
website listed Taiwan H1N1 cases separately from those of the
PRC under the name "Chinese Taipei", a format which is
acceptable to Taiwan. WHO previously listed Taiwan data
under the PRC's, and Taiwan stopped providing data until this
was changed. Yeh cancelled his trip plans to Central America
with President Ma in response to the growing H1N1 threat.
MORE TAMIFLU AVAILABILITY
--------------
5. (SBU) DOH Minister Yeh also said Taiwan will procure raw
materials worth NT$ 600 million ($18 million) to manufacture
1 million doses of Tamiflu. DOH is also preparing to stock
10 million doses of Tamiflu, 2.5 million of which will be
bought from overseas and the rest manufactured domestically.
Yeh claimed the drugs could be ready by October if needed to
counter a Fall return of the H1N1 virus.
TAIPEI 00000626 002 OF 002
YOUNG