VZCZCXRO8880
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK
RUEHYG
DE RUEHBS #1104 2221548
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101548Z AUG 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9333
RUEAUSA/HHS WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001104 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES/IHB 
STATE PASS USTR JANE DOHERTY 
STATE PASS USAID 
STATE PASS HHS/NIH 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, BE 
SUBJECT: BELGIUM ESTIMATES 900 NEW CASES OF H1N1; VACCINE TESTS 
BEGIN 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  (U) Belgian health authorities announced on August 7 an 
estimated 900 new cases of H1N1 in Belgium for the first week of 
August.  The weekly estimate indicates the virus is spreading at 
predicted levels.  Belgian media report that tests of H1N1 vaccines 
have begun on volunteers at several Belgian universities.  In a 
press release on August 6, the Belgian Influenza Commission reminded 
the public that the distribution of antiviral medication is 
following the planned procedure and that drugs will remain freely 
available for patients of at-risk groups.  End summary. 
 
H1N1 AT NORMAL LEVELS -- GOVERNMENT 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) The Belgian Influenza Commission estimates that some 900 new 
cases of H1N1 were registered in Belgium during the first week of 
August.  The estimate is based on information collected voluntarily 
by a network of 180 General Practitioners (GPs) whose patients 
comprise a representative sample of the Belgian population.  In 
Belgium the incidence of the flu is still at normal levels for this 
time of the year and the information collected by the network of GPs 
indicates that the virus is spreading at a rate similar to weeks 
previous and not yet increasing. 
 
FIRST TESTS OF H1N1 VACCINES 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Belgian press reported on August 10 that vaccines against 
H1N1 are being tested for the first time in hospitals in Antwerp and 
Ghent on some 600 healthy volunteers.  The test vaccines developed 
by Novartis will contain different doses of the influenza virus so 
that researchers can determine the most effective composition. 
Belgian newspapers report that the first vaccines against H1N1 
should be on the market in Belgium in October if everything goes 
according to plan. 
 
DISTRIBUTION OF ANTIVIRALS GOING AS PLANNED 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) In an August 6 press release the Belgian Influenza 
Commission reminded the Belgian public and GPs that the distribution 
of antiviral medication continues to follow the planned procedure: 
a GP who determines that a patient belongs to a known risk group and 
would therefore benefit from a treatment of antiviral medication can 
obtain the necessary drugs through municipal medical inspectors. 
Antiviral medication continues to be free for all at-risk patients 
in Belgium. 
BUSH