MGSF01 - SWINE FLU UPDATE FOR NEW ZEALAND

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
--------------

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)
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
--------------

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
--------------

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

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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
-------------- ---

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
--------------

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
--------------

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