VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0553/01 1282303
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 082303Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3693
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1812
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0756
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000553 
 
DEPT FOR OES/IHB AMBASSADOR LOFTIS 
USDA PASS TO APHIS 
HHS PASS TO CDC 
HHS FOR OGHA 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC AEMR AMED ASEC KSAF PREL PINR AMGT
KFLO, KPAO, AR 
SUBJECT: TFFLU01: H1N1 Influenza Outbreak and Argentina: SITREP #2 
 
(U) THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED AND NOT FOR INTERNET 
DISTRIBUTION.  PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
 
REF: Buenos Aires 491 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  The first confirmed case of Influenza A (H1N1) in 
Argentina - a traveler who had returned from Mexico on April 25 - 
was confirmed by health authorities on May 7.  The Ministry of 
Health (MOH) has installed thermal scanners at all international 
airports.  The GoA's suspension of direct flights from Mexico on 
April 28 is causing tensions between Argentina and Mexico and has 
resulted in the stranding of Argentine tourists.  Meanwhile, the MOH 
is stockpiling Tamiflu treatment courses and regular flu 
vaccinations in advance of the coming austral winter season.  End 
Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
First Confirmed Case of Influenza A in Argentina 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶2. (U) On May 7, Health Minister Graciela Ocana announced the first 
confirmed case of Influenza A H1N1 virus in Argentina.  The patient 
who tested positive had flown from Mexico to Argentina on April 25 
and started feeling flu symptoms 48 hours later.  He has now been 
released from the hospital after receiving treatment and is 
reportedly in good health.  According to an MOH official contacted 
by the Embassy, the MOH sent 72 samples of suspected cases to a 
local laboratory for evaluation.  Out of these, 16 tested negative, 
one is positive and 55 are still under study.  According to the 
press, primer kits meant to reduce the time necessary for testing 
were sent by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) but have 
yet to arrive in Argentina. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Thermal Scanner Early Warning System Installed 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶3. (U) Epidemiologic surveillance measures were increased at all 
international airports through the initial installation of thermal 
scanners at Ezeiza International Airport (suburban Buenos Aires), 
Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (downtown Buenos Aires), and the airports 
in Cordoba and Mendoza.  The MOH subsequently purchased additional 
scanners manufactured by U.S. company Fluke, for which Embassy 
Buenos Aires provided logistical assistance and support.  Two of 
these scanners were installed at Ezeiza, and one each at Jorge 
Newbery, Calafate, Iguazu and Bariloche airports.  The MOH is 
evaluating the possibility of purchasing an additional scanner for 
the airport in Rio Gallegos in southern Patagonia. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Flight Restrictions Cause Tension with Mexico 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) On April 28, Argentina suspended direct flights from Mexico. 
Mexican officials strongly criticized the measure as discriminatory 
and complained that, while the GOA allows travelers from Mexico to 
arrive in Argentina on American Airlines, Lan Chile or Copa flights 
with stopovers in Miami, Santiago de Chile or Panama, it suspended 
direct flights from Mexico by Aeromexico or Mexicana.  In a recent 
press conference, Health Minister Ocana referred to Mexico as "the 
sick brother."  This has created a tense situation between the two 
countries.  Mexican President Felipe Calderon responded to the 
flight restrictions by criticizing un-named countries (China and 
Cuba have imposed similar restrictions).  Calderon also argued that 
Mexico is doing more to stop the Influenza A H1N1 virus than 
Argentina had done to prevent the Dengue outbreak, which he 
mistakenly said had caused "thousands of deaths" (the actual death 
toll is five, with 23,177 laboratory confirmed cases). 
 
¶5. (SBU) Meanwhile, more than 150 Argentine tourists are stranded in 
Mexico and cannot come back because of the flight restrictions.  A 
previous charter flight paid for by the GOA brought back roughly 200 
previously stranded Argentines on May 4.  The GOA is reportedly 
paying for the lodging and living expenses of its stranded citizens, 
and for Mexican tourists stranded here in Argentina.  According to 
local press reports, former President Nestor Kirchner personally 
gave the order to suspend the flights from Mexico, because he did 
not want to risk criticism over lax public health standards in the 
height of the electoral season. (Comment: The government has been 
under fire in recent months for its response to the dengue outbreak. 
 End Comment.)  An MOH contact reported to Embassy staff that the 
MOH advised against banning flights from Mexico but was overruled by 
the Office of the President. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
Concern About the Coming Winter Season 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) The MOH is concerned about the increase of cold and flu 
symptoms during the coming austral winter.  Health officials are 
closely monitoring the development of Influenza A cases in New 
Zealand, which to date is the only country in the Southern 
Hemisphere to have reported positive cases.  In preparation, the MOH 
has stockpiled 500,000 treatment courses of Tamiflu and has set 
aside 80 million Argentine pesos (USD 21-22 million) to purchase 
additional treatments.  The MOH is also strengthening prevention 
measures for the upcoming winter flu season and has purchased 
500,000 vaccinations for the seasonal flu with PAHO's financial 
support. 
 
KELLY