Senegal Registers First Lab Confirms cases of H1N1

UNCLAS DAKAR 000226 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR ECON SG SUBJECT: Senegal Registers First Lab Confirms cases of H1N1 ¶1. Senegal has seen its first official cases of H1N1 after some 14 were reported in the papers and then confirmed by Minister of Health Modou Diagne Fada. Seven of the cases were reported in the Dakar suburb of Pikine, six were reported in Diourbel and one in Touba. Both Diourbel and Touba were recently host to over one million pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood as part of their celebration of the "Grand Magal" in Touba. According to the Director of the National Pharmacist Association (PNA),Dr. Pape Ndiaye, Senegal does not yet have the specific vaccine available for the H1N1 but the PNA has 10,000 doses of Tamiflu. ¶2. During his press conference on February 8 Health Minister Fada claimed that the H1N1 epidemic "is under control and that people should not panic because medication is available and free of charge." He tried to allay peoples' fears by saying that this pandemic "was far from being a deadly one." He went on to say that Senegal has enough resources to face the swine flu indicating that kits and surgical masks have been distributed throughout Senegal's various city and municipal health structures and that medical staff were on standby in 11 regions. Minister Fada confirmed that none of the people who had been infected had died. The Minister then said that, "the World Health Organization has promised to offer us more vaccines by April." ¶3. Comment: According to Embassy Dakar's medical personnel, H1N1 vaccine is not available either commercially or in the public health sector in Senegal. The ambiguous statement from the Minister aims to calm fears, but should not be construed to mean that Senegal will be able to inoculate the population. At this stage, Senegal cannot prevent people from getting H1N1, but the country's medical infrastructure seems ready to be able to cope with an outbreak, as long as it remains a minor one. End comment. BERNICAT