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
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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.