Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BRUSSELS155
2010-02-09 14:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIUM: H1N1 CASES KEEP FALLING IN 2010
how-toVZCZCXRO9761 RR RUEHIK DE RUEHBS #0155/01 0401414 ZNR UUUUU ZZ R 091414Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9994 RUEAUSA/HHS WASHDC RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000155
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: H1N1 CASES KEEP FALLING IN 2010
REF: 2009 BRUSSELS 1576
BRUSSELS 00000155 001.2 OF 002
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000155
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: H1N1 CASES KEEP FALLING IN 2010
REF: 2009 BRUSSELS 1576
BRUSSELS 00000155 001.2 OF 002
SUMMARY
--------------
1. On January 28, 2010, the Government of Belgium's
Interministerial Influenza Commission (IIC) announced an estimated
1,614 new cases of the H1N1 virus in Belgium for the week of January
12 to January 17 (week 3). This figure is marginally higher from an
estimated 1,302 cases the previous week. Four additional
H1N1-related deaths were reported between November x and December
31; in all, seventeen Belgians have died from H1N1-related causes
since the outbreak began in spring 2009. The total estimated number
of positive cases in Belgium since April 2009 is now 211,009.
Health authorities caution that the virus could still return, as
they believe a large portion of the population has not yet been
exposed to the virus. The GOB is still encouraging individuals in
at-risk groups to take advantage of the slowdown to get vaccinated;
so far the government believes over approximately 1.5 to 2 million
people have been vaccinated. Belgium has also renegotiated a
reduction from its original H1N1 vaccine order from Glaxo Smith
Kline (GSK),as well as donated ten percent of its remaining
vaccines to the World Health Organization (WHO). End summary.
NUMBER OF NEW CASES REMAINS LOW IN JANUARY 2010
--------------
2. Since the H1N1 virus in Belgium reached its peak of positive
cases the week of October 19-25, 2009 with 46,848 estimated cases,
the number of cases has steadily decreased. During the first week
of 2010, only 453 estimated cases were reported-the lowest number
since the week of August 31 to September 6. Health authorities
indicate the circulation of the virus has weakened, but still are
encouraging at-risk groups to take advantage of the slowdown to get
vaccinated.
NO DEATHS IN 2010; FOUR IN LAST WEEKS OF 2009, TOTAL OF 17
--------------
3. There have been no H1N1-related deaths to date in 2010.
However, between Nov 23 and Dec 27, the IIC attributed four
additional deaths to the virus, bringing the total since the onset
of the epidemic to seventeen. According to the Scientific Institute
of Public Health, the H1N1 virus has not had an impact on the
country's mortality rate.
VACCINATION CAMPAIGN FOR MEDICAL RISK GROUPS STILL IN COURSE
--------------
4. The IIC reports that the vaccination of people from the medical
risk groups is still underway. During January 2010, more than two
million doses of vaccine have been delivered to general
practitioners and healthcare institutions by the pharmacies. The
IIC estimates that approximately 1.5 to 2 million persons have been
vaccinated.
BELGIUM TO DONATE 10 PERCENT OF VACCINE STOCK TO DEVELOPING NATIONS
--------------
5. Due to the surplus of the H1N1 vaccine in Belgium, the Belgian
government has announced on January 8, 2010 to donate ten percent of
its remaining vaccines to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO
will then distribute the donated vaccines to developing countries.
NEGOTIATION WITH GLASKO SMITH KLINE TO REDUCE ORDER
--------------
6. Originally having ordered 12.6 million doses of the vaccine from
Glasko Smith Kline (GSK),the Government negotiated with GSK in
early January to reduce its original order by one-third, to
approximately 8 million units. The Ministry of Health confirms that
as of January 8, GSK has delivered 4.3 units of the vaccine. The
reduction will save Belgium approximately 33 million dollars.
EMBASSY H1N1 WORKING GROUP
--------------
7. The Embassy H1N1 Working Group (comprised of representatives
from the Front Office, Health Unit, Management, CLO, RSO, PD and
POLECON sections) reviewed Embassy preparedness in light of
Belgium's H1N1 situation most recently on January 15. Its next
scheduled meeting will be for February 26, unless the situation
warrants an earlier meeting.
8. BELGIAN H1N1 CASES (ESTIMATED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED*)
--------------
WEEK DATE NUMBER CASES CUMULATIVE
NUMBER CASES
BRUSSELS 00000155 002.2 OF 002
--------------
03 JAN 11-17 1,614 211,009
02 JAN 4-10 1,302 209,395
01 DEC 28-JAN 3 453 208,093
52 DEC 21-27 1,865 207,640
51 DEC 14-20 2,091 205,775
50 DEC 7-13 4,482 203,684
49 NOV 30-DEC 6 5,403 199,202
48 NOV 23-29 8,192 193,799
47 NOV 16-22 11,882 186,855
46 NOV 9-15 17,850 174,973
45 NOV 2-8 33,584 155,908
44 OCT 26-NOV 1 50,415 127,379
43 OCT 19-25 41,193 77,609
42 OCT 12-18 16,377 36,416
41 OCT 5-11 7,584 20,039
40 SEP 28-OCT 4 3,997 12,455
39 SEP 21-27 1,763 8,458
39 SEP 21-27 1,763 8,458
38 SEP 14-20 905 6,695
37 SEP 7-13 456 5,790
36 AUG 31-SEP 6 402 5,334
(Source: Scientific Institute Public Health)
*total of individuals testing positive during that period
(Note: Belgium ceased individual testing for H1N1 in mid-July 2009,
and since then has used extrapolations from a system relying on data
based on cases of patients who visit the approximately 180 doctors
who make up the so-called national H1N1 network.)
GUTMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: H1N1 CASES KEEP FALLING IN 2010
REF: 2009 BRUSSELS 1576
BRUSSELS 00000155 001.2 OF 002
SUMMARY
--------------
1. On January 28, 2010, the Government of Belgium's
Interministerial Influenza Commission (IIC) announced an estimated
1,614 new cases of the H1N1 virus in Belgium for the week of January
12 to January 17 (week 3). This figure is marginally higher from an
estimated 1,302 cases the previous week. Four additional
H1N1-related deaths were reported between November x and December
31; in all, seventeen Belgians have died from H1N1-related causes
since the outbreak began in spring 2009. The total estimated number
of positive cases in Belgium since April 2009 is now 211,009.
Health authorities caution that the virus could still return, as
they believe a large portion of the population has not yet been
exposed to the virus. The GOB is still encouraging individuals in
at-risk groups to take advantage of the slowdown to get vaccinated;
so far the government believes over approximately 1.5 to 2 million
people have been vaccinated. Belgium has also renegotiated a
reduction from its original H1N1 vaccine order from Glaxo Smith
Kline (GSK),as well as donated ten percent of its remaining
vaccines to the World Health Organization (WHO). End summary.
NUMBER OF NEW CASES REMAINS LOW IN JANUARY 2010
--------------
2. Since the H1N1 virus in Belgium reached its peak of positive
cases the week of October 19-25, 2009 with 46,848 estimated cases,
the number of cases has steadily decreased. During the first week
of 2010, only 453 estimated cases were reported-the lowest number
since the week of August 31 to September 6. Health authorities
indicate the circulation of the virus has weakened, but still are
encouraging at-risk groups to take advantage of the slowdown to get
vaccinated.
NO DEATHS IN 2010; FOUR IN LAST WEEKS OF 2009, TOTAL OF 17
--------------
3. There have been no H1N1-related deaths to date in 2010.
However, between Nov 23 and Dec 27, the IIC attributed four
additional deaths to the virus, bringing the total since the onset
of the epidemic to seventeen. According to the Scientific Institute
of Public Health, the H1N1 virus has not had an impact on the
country's mortality rate.
VACCINATION CAMPAIGN FOR MEDICAL RISK GROUPS STILL IN COURSE
--------------
4. The IIC reports that the vaccination of people from the medical
risk groups is still underway. During January 2010, more than two
million doses of vaccine have been delivered to general
practitioners and healthcare institutions by the pharmacies. The
IIC estimates that approximately 1.5 to 2 million persons have been
vaccinated.
BELGIUM TO DONATE 10 PERCENT OF VACCINE STOCK TO DEVELOPING NATIONS
--------------
5. Due to the surplus of the H1N1 vaccine in Belgium, the Belgian
government has announced on January 8, 2010 to donate ten percent of
its remaining vaccines to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO
will then distribute the donated vaccines to developing countries.
NEGOTIATION WITH GLASKO SMITH KLINE TO REDUCE ORDER
--------------
6. Originally having ordered 12.6 million doses of the vaccine from
Glasko Smith Kline (GSK),the Government negotiated with GSK in
early January to reduce its original order by one-third, to
approximately 8 million units. The Ministry of Health confirms that
as of January 8, GSK has delivered 4.3 units of the vaccine. The
reduction will save Belgium approximately 33 million dollars.
EMBASSY H1N1 WORKING GROUP
--------------
7. The Embassy H1N1 Working Group (comprised of representatives
from the Front Office, Health Unit, Management, CLO, RSO, PD and
POLECON sections) reviewed Embassy preparedness in light of
Belgium's H1N1 situation most recently on January 15. Its next
scheduled meeting will be for February 26, unless the situation
warrants an earlier meeting.
8. BELGIAN H1N1 CASES (ESTIMATED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED*)
--------------
WEEK DATE NUMBER CASES CUMULATIVE
NUMBER CASES
BRUSSELS 00000155 002.2 OF 002
--------------
03 JAN 11-17 1,614 211,009
02 JAN 4-10 1,302 209,395
01 DEC 28-JAN 3 453 208,093
52 DEC 21-27 1,865 207,640
51 DEC 14-20 2,091 205,775
50 DEC 7-13 4,482 203,684
49 NOV 30-DEC 6 5,403 199,202
48 NOV 23-29 8,192 193,799
47 NOV 16-22 11,882 186,855
46 NOV 9-15 17,850 174,973
45 NOV 2-8 33,584 155,908
44 OCT 26-NOV 1 50,415 127,379
43 OCT 19-25 41,193 77,609
42 OCT 12-18 16,377 36,416
41 OCT 5-11 7,584 20,039
40 SEP 28-OCT 4 3,997 12,455
39 SEP 21-27 1,763 8,458
39 SEP 21-27 1,763 8,458
38 SEP 14-20 905 6,695
37 SEP 7-13 456 5,790
36 AUG 31-SEP 6 402 5,334
(Source: Scientific Institute Public Health)
*total of individuals testing positive during that period
(Note: Belgium ceased individual testing for H1N1 in mid-July 2009,
and since then has used extrapolations from a system relying on data
based on cases of patients who visit the approximately 180 doctors
who make up the so-called national H1N1 network.)
GUTMAN