VZCZCXRO8913
OO RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #1171/01 1150245
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 250245Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6250
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 2500

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 001171 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/MEX, WHA/PDA 
STATE FOR OES/IHB, PA, CAPRESS 
STATE FOR MED/DASHO (MCFADDEN, RINALDO, KEYES) 
STATE FOR MED/DIR (PENNER) 
CDC FOR CCID/NCPDCID, CCID/NCIRD AND COGH/DGPPC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC KSCA TBIO MX
SUBJECT: SITREP 1 - SWINE FLU OUTBREAK IN MEXICO CITY 
 
 ¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  As a precaution, Mexican authorities 
closed schools and other public institutions in the Federal 
District and State of Mexico April 24, 2009 as officials 
announced an outbreak of the H1N1 strain of "swine flu". 
At the invitation of the GOM, two CDC officials will travel 
to Mexico April 24 to participate in an assessment of the 
outbreak.  Mexican officials have been open in this process 
and also have reached out for assistance to PAHO, WHO and the 
Canadian government.  Reliable statistics have been difficult 
to verify, largely due to internal systems. 
 
 
¶2.  (U) MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ACTIONS: 
As a precaution, Mexican authorities closed preschools, 
schools and universities in the Federal District and State of 
Mexico April 24, 2009 as the Mexican Secretariat of Health 
announced hundreds of cases of flu in the country, some of 
which may be the H1N1 strain of "swine flu".  Some other 
public institutions, such as museums, are also closed through 
Sunday, April 26.  Officials will announce decisions 
regarding any closures beyond April 26 at a later date.  No 
businesses or commercial ventures have been asked to close. 
The Mexican Ministry of Health issued a press release late on 
April 23 advising the public of the closures, providing 
information about symptoms and suggested ways in which the 
public can reduce the risk of infection.  The Minister of 
Health held a press conference late April 24 in which he 
announced: 
--The virus was identified in collaboration with U.S. and 
Canada laboratories. 
--The number of people infected with the virus has not 
increased. 
--The GOM has a toll-free phone number for information and 
health orientation about flu: 01.800.123.1010 
--The Ministry of Health has sufficient supplies of medicines 
and anti-viral vaccines. 
--WHO has not declared any "quarantine" for Mexico.  The 
borders are open. 
--There is no risk from eating pork. 
The GOM has established a Coordination and Logistics 
Taskforce to compile information on the outbreak.  The 
Taskforce briefs senior GOM officials on a regular basis on 
developments. 
The National Center of Epidemiology and Disease Control has 
informally requested diagnostic lab materials and surgical 
masks.  We have asked our contacts to submit a formal request 
with specific requirements. 
Mexican health workers are reportedly passing out information 
flyers to passengers at the Mexico City airport and advising 
passengers who feel ill not to travel. 
The disease is spread by human-to-human contact.  The 
Ministry of Agriculture confirms that in all the known fatal 
cases within the immediate Mexico City area, there was no 
direct contact with live swine. 
 
 
¶3.  (SBU) STATISTICS: 
The Ministry of Health reports 20 confirmed deaths from the 
disease and is investigating an additional 45 deaths.  There 
are reports of approximately 1000 cases in the Federal 
District and State of Mexico - in a population of over 25 
million. 
GOM procedures for collecting data on health outbreaks are 
complicatedby the complexity of the health system.  Mexico 
has many different medical entities including public 
hospitals and clinics, Social Security Hospitals and clinics, 
private hospitals and military medical facilities.  They 
function independently and different populations have 
different access to the various systems.  There is a Health 
Bureau in Mexico, but the data collected is often not 
complete, precise, or timely. 
 
 
¶4.  (U) MANAGEMENT ISSUES: 
 
The EAC was convened on April 24. 
 
There are no signs of swine flu within the Embassy community. 
 
MEXICO 00001171  002 OF 002 
 
 
 Demand for the seasonal flu vaccine has been high and the 
Health Unit has given over 160 vaccinations. 
 
All employees who deal with the public in the course of their 
duties have been given surgical masks.  Embassy supplies will 
last for only two or three more days. 
 
A management notice was sent to Embassy employees and an 
information hotline has been set up. 
 
 
¶5.  (U)  SECURITY ISSUES: 
 
Internal warden systems have been updated, trip wires have 
been reviewed and local guard schedules are being examined. 
 
Information on emergency supplies is being collected. 
 
 
¶6.  (U) CONSULAR ISSUES: 
 
A warden message was sent to the American community and 
posted on the Embassy webpage. 
 
As of 1700, the ACS unit reported there had been very few 
calls (less than 10) from U.S.citizens inquiring about the 
situation. 
 
There are no plans to curtail American Citizen or visa 
services at this time. 
 
 
¶7.  (U) BORDER ISSUES: 
 
Principal officers at Mission Mexico constituent posts report 
no significant concerns. 
 
In San Luis Potosi, there have been four deaths and the state 
government is recommending that classes be suspended. 
 
In Mexicali, there were two flu-related deaths, but officials 
have stated these were not unusual cases and there is no need 
for a statewide or local alert about modifying activities. 
 
 
¶8.  (U) MEDIA REACTION/GENERAL POPULATION SENTIMENTS: 
 
On Wednesday April 22 newspaper Reforma featured a front page 
story titled &Flu hits DF.8 According to Reforma, there 
were five reported deaths and 218 cases of influenza in 
Mexico City hospitals.  On April 23 media outlets ran the 
Health Secretariat,s &epidemiological warning8 on flu, 
adding that in just over a month 20 people had died from it 
in the country.  On April 24 all Mexico City newspapers 
featured Secretary of Health Cordoba Villalobos, 
announcement that the federal government decided to suspend 
all classes in Mexico City and the State of Mexico schools on 
Friday; all stories included the recommendations of the 
Secretary in regards to personal habits to avoid contracting 
the disease. According to Reforma, &authorities presume that 
the new virus came from the U.S.,8 since the CDC announced 
two cases of swine flu in southern California on April 21. 
The electronic media, particularly radio, has been reporting 
all day on developments on the case, including the World 
Health Organization,s issuing of a Level 3 warning, and 
statements by WHO and CDC officials like Richard Besser who 
said that, for the time being, U.S. health authorities would 
not reinforce security or restrict traveling. 
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American 
Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / 
BASSETT