Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BRUSSELS178
2010-02-12 16:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIUM: H1N1 CASES CONTINUE TO FALL IN JANUARY
how-toVZCZCXRO2749 RR RUEHIK DE RUEHBS #0178 0431624 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 121624Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0018 RUEAUSA/HHS WASHDC RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000178
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 CONTINUE TO FALL IN JANUARY
REF: 2010 BRUSSELS 155
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000178
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 CONTINUE TO FALL IN JANUARY
REF: 2010 BRUSSELS 155
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. On February 11, 2010, the Government of Belgium's
Interministerial Influenza Commission (IIC) announced an estimated
626 new cases of the H1N1 virus in Belgium for the week of January
25 to January 31 (week 5),and an estimated 257 cases during January
18 to 24. Two additional H1N1-related deaths were reported between
January 18 and January 31; in total, nineteen 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 211,137. 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. As a sign of the
decline in cases, the IIC is now reporting data every two weeks
instead of weekly. End summary.
--------------
Falling Cases in January 2010
--------------
2. Although there were an estimated 626 cases the last week of
January, the previous week of January 18 to January 24 saw the
lowest number of cases since the onset of the H1N1 virus in spring
2009.
--------------
TWO ADDITIONAL DEATHS IN 2010; TOTAL OF 19
--------------
3. Between January 18 and January 31, the IIC attributed two
additional deaths to the virus, bringing the total since the onset
of the epidemic to nineteen. According to the Scientific Institute
of Public Health, the H1N1 virus has not had an impact on the
country's mortality rate.
--------------
INFLUENZA COMMISSION REPORTS NOW BI-WEEKLY
--------------
4. As the number of estimated cases has fallen since the onset and
peak of the H1N1 outbreak, the IIC has gone from sending daily
reports initially, to weekly reports, and now to bi-weekly reports.
The IIC continues to note, however, that H1N1 could potentially hit
more, given that many Belgians have not been exposed to the virus.
--------------
5. BELGIAN H1N1 CASES (ESTIMATED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED*)
--------------
WEEK DATE NUMBER CASES CUMULATIVE
NUMBER CASES
--------------
05 JAN 25-31 626 211,137
04 JAN 18-24 257 210,511
03 JAN 11-17 1,084 210,254
02 JAN 4-10 1,289 209,170
01 DEC 28-JAN 3 465 207,881
52 DEC 21-27 1,665 207,416
51 DEC 14-20 2,091 205,761
50 DEC 7-13 4,474 203,670
49 NOV 30-DEC 6 5,403 199,196
48 NOV 23-29 8,186 193,793
47 NOV 16-22 11,730 185,607
(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 CONTINUE TO FALL IN JANUARY
REF: 2010 BRUSSELS 155
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. On February 11, 2010, the Government of Belgium's
Interministerial Influenza Commission (IIC) announced an estimated
626 new cases of the H1N1 virus in Belgium for the week of January
25 to January 31 (week 5),and an estimated 257 cases during January
18 to 24. Two additional H1N1-related deaths were reported between
January 18 and January 31; in total, nineteen 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 211,137. 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. As a sign of the
decline in cases, the IIC is now reporting data every two weeks
instead of weekly. End summary.
--------------
Falling Cases in January 2010
--------------
2. Although there were an estimated 626 cases the last week of
January, the previous week of January 18 to January 24 saw the
lowest number of cases since the onset of the H1N1 virus in spring
2009.
--------------
TWO ADDITIONAL DEATHS IN 2010; TOTAL OF 19
--------------
3. Between January 18 and January 31, the IIC attributed two
additional deaths to the virus, bringing the total since the onset
of the epidemic to nineteen. According to the Scientific Institute
of Public Health, the H1N1 virus has not had an impact on the
country's mortality rate.
--------------
INFLUENZA COMMISSION REPORTS NOW BI-WEEKLY
--------------
4. As the number of estimated cases has fallen since the onset and
peak of the H1N1 outbreak, the IIC has gone from sending daily
reports initially, to weekly reports, and now to bi-weekly reports.
The IIC continues to note, however, that H1N1 could potentially hit
more, given that many Belgians have not been exposed to the virus.
--------------
5. BELGIAN H1N1 CASES (ESTIMATED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED*)
--------------
WEEK DATE NUMBER CASES CUMULATIVE
NUMBER CASES
--------------
05 JAN 25-31 626 211,137
04 JAN 18-24 257 210,511
03 JAN 11-17 1,084 210,254
02 JAN 4-10 1,289 209,170
01 DEC 28-JAN 3 465 207,881
52 DEC 21-27 1,665 207,416
51 DEC 14-20 2,091 205,761
50 DEC 7-13 4,474 203,670
49 NOV 30-DEC 6 5,403 199,196
48 NOV 23-29 8,186 193,793
47 NOV 16-22 11,730 185,607
(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