AUSTRIA H1N1 UPDATE: 54 CONFIRMED CASES, STILL NO SPECIAL

UNCLAS VIENNA 000891 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CE STATE FOR OES/IHB STATE FOR AID/GH/HIDN USDA PASS TO APHIS HHS PASS TO CDC HHS FOR OGHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO ECON ASEC CASC KFLO KPAO KFLU PREL MG AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIA H1N1 UPDATE: 54 CONFIRMED CASES, STILL NO SPECIAL PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES REF: (A) VIENNA 733; (B) VIENNA 519 ¶1. As of July 29, Austrian authorities report 54 total H1N1 cases since the outbreak of the epidemic. The number of infected persons has increased significantly over the past two weeks. Most cases have been discovered after Austrians returned home from tourist destinations all over the world (the six most recent cases over the weekend are tourists coming home from trips to Australia, Philippines, Spain and Bulgaria). The course of the disease has been mild in all cases so far, and the patients have recovered quickly. Most of the cases are treated with Tamiflu. ¶2. The Director for Public Health, Hubert Hrabcik emphasized that there has been no "infection chain" in Austria due to strict isolation and treatment of infected persons. "At least 100 - 200 new infections have been prevented that way", he told the press. At this stage, Austria is not planning additional precautionary measures and is not expecting an epidemic in Austria. The Austrian pandemic plan foresees that in case of a "serious aggravation" of the situation those persons, who maintain public health and public order in Austria (people employed in the health care service, security, sewage, and transportation sectors, and also policy makers),are treated first with antiviral medication. With current Tamiflu stocks around 670,000 inhabitants could be supplied. ¶3. As reported in ref A, Austria concluded a pre-contract with the U.S. pharmaceutical company Baxter to supply 16 million vaccine doses. The Austrian health authorities expect the authorization of Baxter's H1N1 vaccine (under the brand name "Celvapan") by September. Baxter has developed its H1N1 vaccine by using its "vero cell" technology (cell cultures instead of conventional egg-based systems) in its research facilities in Austria, and is currently in the production phase. HOH