MGSF01 - SWINE FLU UPDATE FOR NEW ZEALAND

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000106

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR OES/IHB, USAID AND EAP

HHS PASS TO CDC AND OGHA

USDA PASS TO APHIS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL, PINR, AMGT, TBIO, KFLU, CASC, AEMR, ASEC, KFLO, KSAF,

KPAO, MG, NZ

SUBJ: MGSF01 - SWINE FLU UPDATE FOR NEW ZEALAND

WELLINGTON 00000106 001.2 OF 002

1. (SBU) Summary. There are currently 10 probable cases and 56

suspected cases of Swine Flu in New Zealand, all New Zealanders who

returned from Mexico on April 25 via Los Angeles, or who have had

contact with them. The GNZ expects the World Health Organization

(WHO) lab in Melbourne, Australia to confirm within the next two

days whether the 10 probable cases have Swine Flu. The GNZ is urging

all incoming airline passengers from North America and Mexico to see

a doctor if flu-like symptoms occur and is preparing to issue a

travel warning, urging New Zealanders to avoid non-essential travel

to Mexico. Embassy Wellington has posted a Swine Flu notice and

information update on its website. End Summary.

Swine Flu Makes Big News in NZ

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2. (SBU) On Saturday, April 25, a group of 22 Spanish language

students and three teachers from Rangitoto College (an Auckland high

school) returned to Auckland after three weeks in Mexico. The group

traveled from Mexico, boarded Air New Zealand Flight 1 in Los

Angeles, and landed in Auckland Saturday morning. Upon landing,

thirteen students and one teacher experienced flu-like symptoms.

Nine or 10 had mild symptoms; and three or four had moderate to

severe symptoms and one of that number was hospitalized as a

precaution (and was subsequently released). All were tested for

Influenza A (of which H1N1, or Swine Flu, is a subset). The results

were positive and were forwarded to the WHO lab in Melbourne,

Australia for a determination of whether the victims have Swine Flu.

The results should be known in a day or two, but NZ health

officials say it is "probable" that 10 of the tests will reveal

Swine Flu. For that reason, and out of an abundance of caution,

health authorities are treating those cases as H1N1 Swine Flu. The

ill students and their families are in voluntary quarantine.

3. (SBU) Another group of 14 students, two staff members and two

parents from Northcote College (another Auckland high school)

r />returned to Auckland from Mexico on Saturday morning via Air New

Zealand Flight 5 from Los Angeles, arriving shortly after Flight 1.

Three of the students were experiencing flu-like symptoms and were

tested for Influenza A, but results were negative.

4. (SBU)In addition to the 10 probable Swine Flu cases, the MOH and

local health authorities are presently monitoring 56 other cases in

NZ which are "suspected" to be Swine Flu and are located throughout

the country. All are being quarantined and all have been given

Tamiflu.

None of the Suspected Cases are Severe

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5. (SBU) None of the probable or suspected cases are severe.

Health Minister Tony Ryall announced that those students who tested

positive for Influenza A are all responding well to treatment and

their cases are relatively mild. Nevertheless, local NZ health

authorities have asked all of the potential victims and their

families to stay at home.

The GNZ Response

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6. (SBU) The NZ Ministry of Health (MOH) is attempting to contact

all passengers on both of the flights (364 passengers on Flight 1

and 269 on Flight 5) and has asked, through the media, that

passengers contact NZ health authorities for information. The MOH

contacted the Embassy's consular section in Auckland on Tuesday,

promising to forward the names of Americans on the two flights. MOH

asked the consular section to check its consular records for any

contact information it might have for these Amcits. As of COB

Tuesday, the list of Amcits had not been received from the MOH.

When and if Post receives the list, we will reach out to any Amcits

on the list whose contact information we have.

7. (SBU) On Monday, NZ health officials began screening incoming

airline passengers from North America and Mexico and are urging them

to see a doctor if they experience flu-like symptoms. Prime

Minister John Key stated to the media that New Zealanders should

WELLINGTON 00000106 002.2 OF 002

think carefully before visiting Mexico. According to Nik Kiddle,

the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) official who is

directing the Ministry's Swine Flu response, MFAT will be issuing a

travel warning later today consistent with the PM's statement. The

warning will urge New Zealanders to avoid non-essential travel to

Mexico. According to Kiddle, MFAT was motivated to issue the

warning after the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) posted a

similar warning on its website.

8. (SBU) The MOH reports that it has 1.4 million doses of Tamiflu.

NZ health authorities have offered the anti-viral drug to all

potentially infected individuals.

Obtaining Information from GNZ Sources Difficult

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9. (SBU) The Swine Flu situation in Mexico and the potential spread

of the virus to NZ has received prominent front-page coverage in

both national papers for the last two days. The MOH hotline is

clogged with requests for information, and even MFAT is having

difficulty getting briefed on recent developments. According to

Kiddle, MFAT is planning to conduct a briefing for the Wellington

diplomatic corps, but he has not been able to obtain regular updates

from the MOH. Poloff's attempts to obtain information from MOH

officials also proved unsuccessful. In Poloff's discussion with MOH

Deputy Director for Public Health Fran McGrath, McGrath declined to

answer questions. She stated that the MOH is routinely sharing

information with the WHO and the US CDC, and the USG should first

directly request information from those organizations. If those

requests are not answered, McGrath said she would then respond to

written inquiries from Embassy Wellington.

Embassy Wellington Response

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10. (U) The US Consulate in Auckland has added the following

advisory to Embassy Wellington's website:

-- Notice to Americans in New Zealand About Swine Flu:

The US Centers for Disease Control is presently assisting the World

Health Organization and Mexican Ministry of Health in responding to

this public health concern. Information concerning swine flu and

the epidemiological investigation underway can be found at

www.cdc.gov/swineflu. Additional information on swine flu and

pandemic influenza can be accessed through www.pandemicflu.gov.

Up-dated information from New Zealand's Ministry of Health is

available at http: //www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf

/indexmh/mexican-swine-influenza-update-27040 9.

-- Update: from New Zealand Ministry of Health

If you were a passenger on Air New Zealand Flight NZ1 from Los

Angeles arriving in Auckland at FIVE AM on 25/04/2009, the New

Zealand Ministry of Health asks you to please contact the Public

Health Service urgently to discuss the possible need for protective

measures such as antiviral medication.

Anyone who has travelled from Mexico or North America in the last

two weeks, especially if you have since developed flu-like symptoms,

should contact the Ministry of Health hotline (0800 611 116) for

information.

Possible MFAT Request for USG Assistance

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11. (SBU) MFAT's Kiddle stated that if Swine Flu is confirmed and

the spread of the illness from trans-Pacific air passengers becomes

worse, the GNZ may ask the USG to assist in screening the health of

passengers before they embark on flights to NZ. Kiddle also

mentioned that MFAT would appreciate anything the USG could do to

help raise awareness among the Pacific Island Countries who receive

direct flights from the US, such as Samoa and the Cook Islands.

KEEGAN

MGSF01 - SWINE FLU UPDATE FOR NEW ZEALAND

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