VZCZCXRO5391
OO RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHDH RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB
RUEHPOD RUEHSL RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHBD #0165/01 1940751
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130751Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4582
INFO RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA IMMEDIATE
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 3525
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHGVA/USMISSION GENEVA 0103
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000165 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SINGAPORE FOR MED/BROWNL 
STATE FOR CA/OCS/EAP 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG 
STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS EPARRA 
STATE FOR M/PRI/MORRITZR 
STATE FOR OES/AIAG 
STATE FOR REO/BKK/HOWARDH 
HHS FOR OGHA 
CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID AND COGH 
USDA FOR APHIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC TBIO PREL PINR BX
 
SUBJECT:  BRUNEI H1N1 CASES GROW DRAMATICALLY 
 
SUMMARY 
¶1. (SBU) Brunei's confirmed H1N1 case load grows dramatically each 
day. Total confirmed cases have surpassed 270. To date there has 
been one death attributed to H1N1, but the young patient had 
numerous pre-existing health conditions. Over 850 close contact 
persons have been quarantined, including a transiting American 
citizen.  The Government of Brunei (GoB) is adopting a primarily 
containment focused strategy, but given the exponential rise in the 
number of reported cases, a switch to a mitigation strategy is 
likely in the coming weeks.  Brunei's Ministry of Health (MoH) has 
said publicly that H1N1 is "here to stay for some time" and 
continues to promote an active public health campaign. The Sultan of 
Brunei authorized the postponement of all major celebrations in 
honor of his birthday on July 15th. Bruneians, for the most part, 
have taken the health warnings to heart and not let H1N1 overwhelm 
daily routines and activities.  End Summary. 
 
 
BRUNEI'S GROWING H1N1 CASELOAD 
------------------------------ 
¶2. (SBU) Brunei's confirmed H1N1 caseload continues to grow by 
approximately 20-30 cases daily, although the confirmed daily case 
load has dropped over the last few days.  The current total has 
surpassed 270.  There are reports that public facilities are 
over-crowded with those seeking treatment and/or under quarantine. 
To date, only one death has been reported. A 12 year old girl with a 
number of pre existing medical conditions passed away and her death 
was attributed to H1N1.  Case load growth has been attributed to a 
number of causes that include: return of students from holidays, lax 
visitor control at hospitals for those visiting early quarantine 
cases, increase public awareness, and stricter reporting 
requirements.  Over 850 persons have been quarantined and treated, 
many for being in close contact with those earlier confirmed as 
suffering from H1N1. At least half are reported as having completed 
treatment and have been released.  One American citizen transiting 
Brunei was briefly quarantined after presenting at Brunei's 
international airport with a high fever.  He was released the next 
day and allowed to continue his travels. 
 
PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES 
------------------------ 
¶3. (SBU) The MoH has stepped up its public awareness campaign and 
screening procedures at airports and schools.  All schools in Brunei 
were closed for a week in an attempt to stem the spread of H1N1. 
Schools are also screening students daily.  However, the results 
have been mixed as confirmed cases spiked immediately after schools 
were reopened.  The television, radio, and papers are filled with 
updates and warnings regarding H1N1. Banks, restaurants, hotels, and 
other businesses are required by the MoH to follow strict 
guidelines, including the usage of masks and other personal 
protective equipment (PPE) 
 
SULTAN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION POSTPONED 
----------------------------------------- 
4 (SBU) The Sultan of Brunei's birthday is a nation-wide, multi-week 
celebration in Brunei.  The Sultan chose to postpone all events and 
celebrations related to his birthday due to H1N1 concerns. Due to 
the large number of Bruneians who both participate and watch the 
various celebrations in honor of the Sultan's birthday, Bruneian 
officials were concerned about a greatly increased H1N1 case load. 
 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
¶4. (SBU) On the whole, Brunei has been relatively calm regarding the 
rapid increase in H1N1 cases.  While mask and hand sanitizer sales 
have greatly increased, along with some profiteering, there have not 
been any signs of a public wide panic. The postponement of the 
 
BANDAR SER 00000165  002 OF 002 
 
 
Sultan's birthday celebrations and other public events has been 
viewed as necessary steps and a sign that H1N1 is taken seriously by 
all level of the GoB.  Brunei's high per capita caseload has been a 
cause for concern, but the dropping daily reported case load may 
indicate the infection rate has peaked.  There continue to be no 
reported H1N1 cases amongst American citizens in Brunei and Embassy 
staff. 
 
MCINTYRE