R 201314Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4699
INFO CDC ATLANTA GA
AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 
AMEMBASSY PARIS

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000255 
 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/EPS 
DEPT FOR OES/IHB 
DEPT FOR CA/OCS/ACS 
HHS FOR CDC 
JOHANNESBURG FOR RCO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU KFLO KPAO KSAF AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC TBIO MP
 
SUBJECT: H1N1 CATCHES HOLD IN MAURITIUS 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY.  Since the first confirmed case H1N1 flu in June, the 
Government of Mauritius (GOM) has confirmed five deaths and 44 
laboratory-confirmed cases, and expects the number to grow in coming 
months.  While the GOM urges the public not to panic, hospitals are 
reporting difficulty coping with the daily influx of patients. 
Schools remain open for the moment and the GOM has decided to 
restrict H1N1 testing to pregnant women and those in intensive care. 
 END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  A 25-year old French tourist became the first H1N1 case recorded 
in Mauritius in June after having visited Argentina a few days prior 
to arriving on the island.  The tourist was confined to his hotel 
room and recovered after medical treatment.  Early on, the GOM 
focused on prevention and detection measures at the airport and 
seaport, including the installation of a thermal scanner.  Even as 
cases spread around the island, with a number of the infected not 
having traveled abroad, the GOM continues the intense screening 
effort for incoming travelers.  As of August 19, the Government of 
Mauritius (GOM) has confirmed five deaths and 44 
laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 flu and expects the number to 
grow with another six to eight weeks of winter season remaining. 
 
¶3.  During a recent press conference, Prime Minister Ramgoolam urged 
the population not to panic, noting that additional hospital staff 
has been recruited and that flu clinics have been established inside 
major hospitals and local community health centers to accommodate 
patients suffering from flu symptoms, while those confirmed to have 
the H1N1 strain are being treated in isolation wards.  The media, 
however, report that at least two major hospitals are having trouble 
coping with the daily influx of patients, despite the measures taken 
by the health authorities. 
 
¶4.  Even in the face of mounting pressure from teachers and medical 
practitioners' unions, the GOM has ruled out the closure of public 
schools.  As part of a public campaign, the Government advised 
parents to keep sick children at home for at least seven days. 
Pupils with flu-like symptoms attending schools are provided with 
masks and cared for in separate rooms prior to being sent to 
hospitals for treatment.  The government intensified its school 
sensitization campaigns on basic hygiene, including proper hand 
washing.  The government also announced that all schools will be 
disinfected over the course of this weekend. 
 
¶5.  Most recently, the government announced that H1N1 tests will 
henceforth be restricted to pregnant women and those who are in 
intensive care; this is in part because the GOM laboratory has the 
capacity to perform only 12 tests for H1N1 a day.  In addition, the 
results of the tests, as well as information on all further 
H1N1-related deaths, will only be disclosed to the World Health 
Organization.  In a welcome change for doctors, the GOM decided to 
put the onus for treatment of all flu patients on doctors, who may 
now decide whether or not to prescribe Tamiflu.  Previously, doctors 
were restricted by the Ministry of Health when treating patients, 
and could not prescribe Tamiflu without an H1N1 positive test. 
 
BLASER