New Zealand H1N1 Sitrep, June 19, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000169

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SUBJECT: New Zealand H1N1 Sitrep, June 19, 2009


1. (SBU) Summary. On June 18, the New Zealand Government announced
a shift of its H1N1 strategy from one of "containment" to one of
"management" of the virus. This move was prompted by increased
volumes of confirmed and suspected cases of the virus received by
the country's regional health authorities. One key change in
strategy is the new restriction placed on the public distribution
of Tamiflu, - now being supplied to those patients with the most
severe H1N1 symptoms. Existing virus-related border controls and
quarantines will remain in place. The GNZ does not envision
issuing any new travel advisories considering the breadth of the
pandemic, although it is concerned about possible subsequent
Pacific Island cases of H1N1. The GNZ's new strategy indicates
that it recognizes it is no longer able to contain the spread of
HIN1 and that public distribution of its Tamiflu stocks must be
tightly control. End Summary.

GNZ's Shifts from Containing to Managing H1N1

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2. (U) On June 18, the regional public health authorities in
Wellington and Christchurch upgraded their strategy to deal with
the H1NI virus. Planning is now under way to shift the role of
public health authorities from 'containment' of the virus to
'management' of the pandemic. Auckland's regional public health
authority is expected to make the shift on June 22. The GNZ states
that virus-related border controls and quarantines will remain in
force. We anticipate the GNZ will publish its new "management" plan
some time next week.

Tamiflu Distribution under Tighter Control

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3. (U) Central to the strategic shift is the restriction now placed
on the public distribution of the anti-viral drug, Tamiflu. The
Wellington and Christchurch regions, which include NZ's capitol
city of Wellington and the largest city on the South Island
respectively, will be the country's first regions to restrict the
drug by public health services. Wellington's Dominion Post
newspaper reported that only patients within the Wellington region
who exhibit serious H1N1 symptoms, or those with additional health
issues, will now be provided with the drug.


4. (SBU) The move from a strategy of virus containment to
management is an acknowledgement by the GNZ that it is unable to
contain spread of the H1N1 throughout the country and that its
efforts to ensure a continuing adequate supply of Tamiflu is under
threat from the growing pandemic. In the initial stages of
containment, health services were able to freely distribute Tamiflu
as the volume of possible cases remained limited. However, the
increased volume of public concern over suspected cases of the
virus prompted authorities to move their strategy to the next
phase.

Increase in Confirmed and Possible Cases Prompts Shift

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5. (SBU) Wellington's Public Health Authorities report that both
the increased number of confirmed cases and the volume of public
anxiety over suspected cases have stretched its existing medical
and human resources. Said Wellington Regional Public Health
officer Dr. Stephen Palmer, "[T]he situation is changing rapidly,
we are only going to contain [the virus] to a certain extent."
Palmer stated that 51 cases have been confirmed in the Wellington
region - 16 in the last 48 hours. The Dominion Post reported that
one Wellington child is presently in isolation with a confirmed
case of the flu, although hospital staff says the symptoms are
mild. According to the NZ Ministry of Health, the current number

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of H1N1 cases in NZ are 216 confirmed cases (158 active) and 18
probable cases.



Subsequent H1N1 Threat to Pacific Islands Possible

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6. (SBU) Mary Oliver, from the Protocol Division of New Zealand's
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT),told post that GNZ
does not expect to issue any fresh travel advisories considering
the breadth of the pandemic. Oliver did express concern for the
spread of H1N1 to islands in the South Pacific which may not have
sufficient infrastructure to handle a pandemic outbreak. According
to Oliver, this is especially a concern with the coming of the New
Zealand and Australian vacation season, with many vacationers
choosing to visit these islands.



GNZ Moves to Strengthen Health Services

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7. (U) The GNZ also announced that community-based health services
throughout NZ were being strengthened to manage increased numbers
of people with flu, in addition to support services for patients
with other illnesses. In the central North Island city of Rotorua,
11 high school students have been quarantined by health authorities
after two classmates tested positive for the H1N1 virus.
KEEGAN