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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1442
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RUEAHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000419 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR H1N1 MONITORING GROUP, AIAG FOR WINN; STATE 
PLEASE PASS DHHS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, MG, AS 
SUBJECT: MGSF01 AUSTRALIA H1N1 SITREP APRIL 29 2009 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 42324 
     ¶B. SECSTATE 41745 
     ¶C. CANBERRA 415 
 
¶1. (SBU) The following is the latest SITREP covering 
Australia's response to the H1N1 outbreak. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Government Response: The GOA increased its pandemic 
response phase to DELAY under the Australian Health 
Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI - available at 
www.flupandemic.gov.au).  Health Minister Roxon declared H1N1 
a quarantineable disease under the Quarantine Act 1908, a 
legal step necessary should the government need to impose 
mandatory quarantine on suspected or confirmed H1N1 
sufferers.  Currently, if an arriving traveler is screened by 
quarantine and health officials and considered to be of 
concern, they are asked to travel directly to their home or 
hotel and self-quarantine.  If severely ill, they will be 
assessed and transported to a medical facility on a 
case-by-case basis.  New South Wales health authorities also 
declared H1N1 notifiable, which enables state medical 
responders to enforce quarantines if needed.  The Coalition 
of Australian Governments (COAG) which is the coordination 
group for federal and state governments on policy, is 
scheduled to meet May 1 in Hobart, and will ratify joint 
pandemic protocols.  Press reports claimed the government was 
exploring options to prohibit arrival in Australia for 
aircraft and vessels in the event a true pandemic emerges, 
but stressed no such requirement currently exists. The 
Department of Foreign Affairs advised Australians to 
"reconsider" travel to Mexico due to the severe H1N1 outbreak 
there. 
 
¶3. (SBU) According to a source at Qantas, the airline has 
implemented GOA-mandated procedures for passengers in-bound 
to Australia.  So far they have reported 14 passengers as 
having flu-like symptoms, but to date all have been cleared 
of having H1N1.  There has not yet been a large number of 
passengers calling to inquire about overseas travel; Qantas 
is referring them to DFAT's travel advisory website.  Qantas 
has not seen an upsurge in passengers requesting rebooking or 
cancelling international travel, and since the news broke 
late last week, there has not been a drop in sales for 
international flights.  Virgin Blue told us they haven't seen 
any impact on bookings yet but they are "expecting" a 
"backlash", probably within the next few days, that will 
reduce international bookings.  They are getting quite a few 
calls from passengers who are asking about travel to North 
America, and like Qantas are referring them to the GOA's web 
site. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Angela Pratt, Chief of Staff to Health Minister 
Nicola Roxon, told embassy today that Australia has large 
stockpiles of antiviral medicines (DOHA confirmed 8.7 million 
courses of either Tamiflu or Relenza) - one of the largest in 
the world in per capita terms.  Based on that and the fact 
that Australia has not yet recorded any cases, they are not 
Qthat Australia has not yet recorded any cases, they are not 
looking to buy any more at the moment.  Pratt said CSL has 
already begun working on a H1N1 vaccine, but how long it 
would be to finish production and distribute it widely enough 
to have an effect was unclear.  Pratt said internal GOA 
coordination was "going well".  There are two key bodies. 
The National Crisis Committee is an interagency group at the 
Federal government level, including DOHA, Attorney Generals 
and Customs (due to border issues), among others.  The other 
is the Australian Health Protection Committee, comprised of 
the chief medical officers for Australia and each of 
Australia's eight state and territory governments.  Currently 
the NCC is meeti 
ng once per day, AHPC twice a day.  ABC news reported that 
 
CANBERRA 00000419  002 OF 002 
 
 
GlaxoSmithKline is preparing to boost production of Relenza 
in Melbourne by 5 million doses over the next three months. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Case Count: According to DOHA's National Incident 
Room, Australia is investigating 90 suspect cases, but has 
not confirmed any cases of H1N1 as of April 29. Of particular 
concern are 22 Australians who traveled on a flight with 
three New Zealand nationals who tested positive for H1N1. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Post Actions: Post convened the EAC on April 29 
(septel), to discuss additional measures, including 
publishing information on Australia's screening measures, and 
reviewed medical resources in the event the outbreak worsens. 
 Charge then explained U.S. and Australian government actions 
and answered questions at a town hall meeting for post 
employees. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Consular Issues: As of April 29, there are no ACS 
cases involving quarantine or isolation of U.S. citizens. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Public Diplomacy: H1N1 continues to be a top news 
story of the day.  All major media outlets covered the steps 
taken by GOA and in other countries to contain the virus. 
ABC news radio conducted an interview with an Australian 
veterinarian practicing in the U.S. who cautioned against the 
use of the term "swine flu" and explained that the disease 
was now a human virus and was not caused by eating pork 
products.  Media concern focused heavily on confirmed cases 
in New Zealand. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Agriculture Issues: As of April 29, the GOA has not 
banned any pork imports from any location, and the Australian 
Quarantine and Inspection Service has advised government that 
it will follow guidelines set by the World Animal Health 
Organization (OIE). 
 
CLUNE