VZCZCXRO9298
OO RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #1172/01 1170110
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 270110Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6252
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 2502
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1087

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MEXICO 001172 
 
SIPDIS 
SIPRNET 
 
STATE FOR WHA/MEX; WHA/PDA, 
STATE FOR OES/IHB; PA, CAPRESE 
STATE FOR MED/DASHO (MCFADDEN, RINALDO, KEYES) 
STATE FOR EEB AND DS/IP/WHA 
STATE FOR MED/DIR (PENNER) 
CDC FOR CCID/NCPDCID, CCID/NCIRD AND COGH/DGPPC 
DHS FOR CBP 
USDA FOR OSTA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC CVIS ECON KSCA MX TBIO
SUBJECT: SITREP 2 - SWINE FLU OUTBREAK IN MEXICO CITY 
 
REF: MEXICO 1171 
 
 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: 
--------------- 
 
The GOM announced April 25 that schools will remain closed 
until May 6 in Federal District, State of Mexico and San Luis 
Potosi.  The Ministry of Health reported that a total of 81 
deaths (to date only 20 have been confirmed HINI related) and 
1324 cases of suspected swine flu.  The Mayor of Mexico 
canceled large public events and advised citizens to avoid 
large public gatherings for the next ten days.  Embassy 
Mexico will suspend all non-essential public services through 
April 30. 
 
 
¶2.  (U) MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ACTIONS: 
----------------------------------- 
 
President Calderon April 24 acknowledged the seriousness of 
the problem Mexico is facing.  The GOM is working together 
with an international committee composed of WHO, PAHO and CDC 
experts and international consultants.  The priority is to 
profile the confirmed swine flu cases and carry out contact 
studies.  The WHO has publicly stated that the most effective 
way to combat the illness is through retrovirals and that 
there is no effective vaccine. 
 
The GOM is working to standardize case definitions, 
notification procedures and reporting.  Operational teams may 
soon be deployed to other Mexican states to work with local 
authorities and medical staff. 
 
In a joint press conference April 25, the Secretaries of 
Health, Labor, Labor, Economy and Education announced that 
schools in the Federal District, State of Mexico and San Luis 
Potosi will remain closed until May 6.  The GOM is 
discouraging parents from bringing children to work.  The 
Secretary of Labor asked employers to be flexible with 
absenteeism due to illness and childcare issues and 
encouraged employers to consider allowing employees to 
telecommute. 
 
The Mayor of Mexico City announced April 25 that the Federal 
District will cancel public events in venues it controls and 
closed museums and other attractions.  The Mayor indicated 
that measures to minimize the congregation of large numbers 
of people would remain in effect for 10 days. 
 
The Federal Government issued a decree April 25 which gives 
the Health Ministry full authority to enter homes and private 
buildings and isolate the sick.  Authorities will be able to 
inspect people, luggage, and any other device that could pose 
any risk of contagion.  They can also temporarily close shows 
or entertainment centers.  Health authorities will also have 
priority for the use of public communications systems as well 
as public transportation.  The Health Ministry will update 
the President regularly will be responsible for coordinating 
all the actions in the government to control the problem. 
 
Warnings, alerts and a guideline of actions to prevent the 
illness are being distributed via television, radio, 
newspapers and public address systems at the airport and bus 
stations.  The federal government distributed surveys at the 
airport to passengers and advised those with flu symptoms not 
to travel. 
 
The Ministry of Health is convening a high level meeting with 
state government authorities on April 26. 
 
Requests for USG assistance have been verbally expressed. 
We expect to soon receive detailed written requests. 
 
The Ministry of Finance has extended the deadline for filing 
tax returns from April 30 until June. 
 
MEXICO 00001172  002 OF 004 
 
 
 
 
¶3.  (U) ACTIONS BY NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
The Catholic Church confirmed that mass will not be canceled 
but that it will be shorter, that priests will eliminate the 
shaking of hands for the peace ritual and that no communion 
cup will be offered. 
 
The press reports bars and restaurants have also closed and 
that in total over 500 public events in Mexico City have been 
canceled 
 
 
¶4.  (SBU) STATISTICS: 
--------------------- 
 
As of COB April 25, the Mexican Ministry of Health reported: 
 
--1324 cases accumulated of Influenza (all types) 
--81 deaths (most of which were in the Federal District) 
--23 cases confirmed as swine flu by Canada and CDC 
 
Most deaths involve patients between the ages of 20 and 50 
years.  No children have died. 
 
Statistics as reported by State: cases and deaths 
Auguascalientes 3, 0 
Baja 14, 2 
Baja sur 0, 0 
Campeche 0, 0 
Coahuila 0, 0 
Colima 0, 0 
Chiapas 3, 0 
Chihuahua 3, 0 
DF 456, 41 
Durango N/A 
Guanajuato N/A 
Guerrero N/A 
Hidalgo 1, 0 
Jalisco 6, 0 
State of Mexico 188, 3 
Michoacan N/A 
Morelos N/A 
Nuevo Leon  0,0 
Nayarit 6, 0 
Oaxaca 1, 1 
Puebla 0, 0 
Queretaro 2, 1 
Quintana Roo 1, 0 
San Luis Potosi 50, 7 
Sinaloa N/A 
 
Information on the gravity of current, existing cases is not 
well compiled.  The Mexicans health data collection and 
analysis system is not well equipped to gathering statistics 
quickly. 
 
Anecdotally, a physician with good contacts to the Embassy 
confirmed that 4 patients with serious HINI influenza as of 
April 23 at a private Federal District hospital which caters 
to wealthier Mexicans.  The patients, aged 20 to 49, were all 
on ventilators and one had a co-morbidity.  One of the 
patients has since died and the others remain in intensive 
care. 
 
¶5.  (U) MANAGEMENT ISSUES: 
-------------------------- 
 
A truncated EAC met April 25.  The EAC decided to allow 
liberal leave for employees the week of April 27 if the 
government announces that schools will remain closed. 
 
The EAC also decided that surgical masks would be provided to 
 
MEXICO 00001172  003 OF 004 
 
 
employees and EFMs upon request.  The Embassy purchased an 
additional 4,000 masks locally on April 24 and expects 
additional supplies from Washington by the end of the week. 
 
¶6.  (U) SECURITY ISSUES: 
------------------------ 
 
RSO will provide first-responder refresher training.  RSO is 
also working with GOM security elements to develop 
contingency plans should there be significant guard absences. 
RSO is collecting information on emergency supplies as well 
as possible vendors. 
 
¶7.  (U) CONSULAR ISSUES: 
------------------------ 
 
The EAC decided April 25 to support the City of Mexico,s 
decision to limit the congregation of large crowds by 
suspending all non-essential public services April 27-30. 
During that time, consular services for U.S. citizens will be 
limited to citizenship applications and emergency assistance 
only.  All non-immigrant visa services will be suspended for 
the week.  The Embassy,s Benjamin Franklin Library will be 
closed to the public during this time. 
 
The Embassy issued a warden message and a press release with 
this information on April 25.  The warden message will also 
be posted on the Embassy website. 
 
The Embassy received fewer than 25 flu related calls on April 
¶25.  Most of the callers were inquiring if there are travel 
restrictions to the U.S. 
 
¶8.  (U) BORDER ISSUES: 
---------------------- 
 
The majority of reported cases are in Central Mexico, 
especially the state of Mexico and the Federal District.  San 
Luis Potosi in Central Mexico reported April 25 that it will 
close schools across the state. 
 
We have received no reports of growing concerns in Northern 
Mexican communities. 
 
 
¶9.  (U) MEDIA REACTION/GENERAL POPULATION SENTIMENTS: 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
Mexican news reports on Saturday, April 25, focused on the 
measures being taken by the City of Mexico to prevent the 
growth of the H1N1 swine flu outbreak and the growing fear 
that it has created in Mexico and abroad.  Several reports 
noted the participation of a team from the Centers for 
Disease Control in Mexico,s efforts to identify and contain 
the virus.  Leading daily Reforma,s coverage was extensive. 
It noted that in the U.S., federal and state governments were 
on the alert for signs of H1N1, especially along the border, 
and highlighted that the flu epidemic plan of the Security 
and Prosperity Partnership had been activated and information 
sharing between the U.S., Canada and Mexico was intense and 
ongoing. 
 
Reforma also reported that after a second press conference at 
Los Pinos, the Secretary of Health stated that according to 
the WHO there is no vaccine that can be helpful to prevent 
transmission, but antiviral drugs should be applied in cases 
of a positive diagnosis.  Other papers also reported that the 
WHO would hold an emergency meeting soon.   Excelsior ran an 
opinion column lauding President Calderon,s actions to stop 
the outbreak, and Milenio lauded the cooperation between the 
Mexico City and Federal governments. 
 
According to the press there are 433 cases in 17 states 
across Mexico, and at least 22 deaths that can be attributed 
to H1N1.  Reforma also reported that Chile, Nicaragua, Peru, 
 
MEXICO 00001172  004 OF 004 
 
 
Costa Rica and Colombia have activated preventive measures. 
 
¶10.  (U) ECONOMIC IMPACT 
------------------------ 
 
Hotels in Mexico have reported a 20 percent cancellation rate 
this weekend.  Most of these had been made by Mexicans from 
other states.  The restaurant industry says it is expecting a 
15 percent drop in profit and many restaurants have reported 
larger than usual numbers of cancellations. 
 
The Secretary of Economy met with an important umbrella 
business organization, the Business Coordination Council 
(CCE) on April 25.  The CCE supports the government's actions 
and reported that it would be flexible on labor absenteeism. 
 
The Mexican Banking Association instructed banks and their 
subsidiaries to urge any client to return home if sick to 
prevent infecting coworkers or other customers. 
On April 25, the Mayor of Mexico City announced that the 
Federal District will cancel public events in venues it 
controls and closed museums and other attractions belonging 
to the city over the weekend. The Mayor indicated that 
measures to minimize the congregation of large numbers of 
people would remain in effect for 10 days. 
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