MGSF01: H1N1 Flu Outbreak - Honduras Status Report as of

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000298 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLO KSAF KPAO AEMR ASEC CASC TBIO HO SUBJECT: MGSF01: H1N1 Flu Outbreak - Honduras Status Report as of noon local time 4-29-09 REF: STATE 42349 ¶1. Both the Embassy and the Government of Honduras have implemented action plans to respond to the crisis. GOH --- ¶2. The GOH's public response began the evening of Sunday, April 26. The Minister of Health addressed the nation via radio and television. He explained H1N1 flu and its symptoms and laid out the following GOH action plan: * Monitoring of all land, sea, and air borders to identify any arriving travelers showing flu-like symptoms. * Identified three hospitals to be the primary care facilities, one each in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba. These are the three largest cities on the mainland and also host international airports. * Established a 24-hour hotline to the Ministry of Health for physicians to report suspected cases. ¶3. The GOH does not have the ability to confirm H1N1 flu, but does have the ability to type and sub-type for A and H1and H3 viruses. If a sample cannot be sub-typed, the GOH will rely on CDC/Atlanta for confirmation of a positive case. CDC is working with the Ministry of Health and the Pan-American Health Organization to identify an alternative reference lab in the region[U1]. To date there have been four suspected cases. Two of the four have tested negative for H1N1 flu, and the results for the other two are expected today. ¶4. The GOH does NOT/NOT have any stocks of Tamiflu, and none is commercially available. Post understands that there is probably some available in the private sector, but the GOH does not know how much is actually in country. Embassy -------------- ¶5. On Monday, April 27, Post held a modified Country Team meeting, and our Pandemic EAC sub-group met separately to review our trip wires, which were updated two weeks ago. ¶6. Post has issued a warden message and a Management Notice. Peace Corps has issued advisory messages to its 148 volunteers by e-mail and 45 trainees in person. Peace Corps has sufficient Tamiflu for all volunteers and trainees. ¶7. Post has 6,240 Tamiflu tablets, enough to give 624 people the 5-day treatment. There is enough Relenza to treat 64 people. The Health Unit has 240 N95 masks. These masks would be worn daily only by people regularly exposed to the flu (those caring for ill family members and the HU staff). There are 800 adult surgical masks and 300 pediatric masks stored in the HU and another 600 masks in storage in the warehouse. The Health Unit is currently procuring more gloves and hand-sanitizing lotion locally (for consular section employees and use in the cafeteria). ¶8. The Health Unit has accepted an offer from Southcom for additional supplies and has requested 400 more tablets of Tamiflu and 50 courses of Relenza, in case the virus starts showing resistance to Tamiflu. They have also asked for 300 additional N95 masks; 800 surgical masks; and 10 boxes each of small, medium and large exam gloves. ¶9. In order to provide full security coverage, post's contract security force has provided the names of ten additional guards to be added to the existing thirteen-member "ready" reserves. RSO is in the process of doing background checks on the ten additional guards; results should be available by May 6. ¶10. Post has contacted the five schools attended by our dependents to review their planning. ¶11. USAID is working closely with the Ministry of Health to monitor developments. The Health Unit, Regional Security Office, Peace Corps, USAID, DHS, and elements of DoD are in regular contact with their U.S.-based headquarters to keep the mission apprised of the latest guidance. ¶12. Post will continue to monitor local events and provide regular updates. Llorens [U1]CDC has told me that under normal circumstances, they can do a 48 hour turn around but at this point, the burden is so great on their labs that they cannot guarantee that kind of response.