O 271329Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6256
INFO ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 
CDC ATLANTA PRIORITY
DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY

UNCLAS MEXICO 001173 
 
STATE FOR WHA/MEX AND WHA/PDA 
STATE FOR OES/IHB, PA AND CAPRESE 
STATE FOR MED/DASHO (MCFADDEN, RINALDO, KEYES) 
STATE FOR MED/DIR (PENNER) 
STATE FOR EEB AND DS/IP/WHA 
CDC FOR CCID/NCPDCID, CCID/NCIRD AND COGH/D 
DHS FOR CBP 
USDA FOR OSTA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC CVIS ECON KSCA MX TBIO
SUBJECT: SITREP 3 - SWINE FLU OUTBREAK IN MEXICO CITY 
 
REF: MEXICO 1172 
 
 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: 
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In a nationwide address, President Calderon asked the public to remain calm, comply with government recommendations on public gatherings and suggested measures to prevent transmission of the virus.  The GOM is still analyzing data and has not made an assessment on how the outbreak will progress.  We expect to receive a formal request for medical supplies and assistance from the GOM within the next few days.  Embassy Mexico has authorized liberal leave for employees who have childcare or transportation concerns. 
 
¶2.  (U) MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ACTIONS: 
----------------------------------- 
 
President Calderon addressed the Mexican people in television address following a meeting with representatives of Mexico,s 31 state governments.  In his address he acknowledged that the outbreak was an epidemic and stressed that the priority of the GOM was to contain transmission of the influenza 
virus.  He asked the public to remain calm, cooperate with the government's efforts and to visit a physician if symptoms develop.  He pledged transparency and will inform the population fully of new developments. 
 
The Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Health (in close consultation with the international group (CDC, PAHO and WHO) has started conducting follow-up studies on the 23 confirmed H1N1 cases (epidemiological profiling, medical histories, contact studies).  Once these studies are   complete, the team will conduct similar studies on all other suspected H1N1 cases. 
 
We expect the GOM to make a formal request for anti-viral treatments, personal protection equipment, logistics and mobilization support and communications equipment within the next few days.  The GOM is still defining its requirements with advice from international experts.  Embassy Mexico staff 
is working with Mexican officials on the formal request. 
 
The GOM is still collecting data and has not made an assessment about how the outbreak will progress over the coming days. 
 
The Secretaries of Transportation and the Mexico City government announced that medical units would be set up at the Mexico City airport.  Ministry of Health officials will man these units and discourage passengers suspected to have H1N1 from traveling. 
 
The Ministry of Finance announced that the GOM has USD 450 million from a Catastrophic Health Fund to address the influenza outbreak.  The money will be used to distribute information, provide medical services and purchase drugs and other medical equipment.  Secretary of Finance Carstens also 
announced that the World Bank will provide USD 205 million in loans to assist the country with the flu outbreak. 
 
¶3.  (U) ACTIONS BY NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: 
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To limit public gatherings, the Catholic Church suspended mass in Mexico City.  Services will be broadcast. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) STATISTICS: 
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Official statistics as of 06:00 April 26.  Data will be issued daily. 
--1455 cases accumulated of Influenza (all types) 
--84 deaths (most of which were in the Federal District) 
--23 cases confirmed as swine flu by Canada and CDC 
 
Statistics as reported by State: cases and deaths 
Auguascalientes 4, 0 
Baja 15, 3 
Baja sur 0, 0 
Campeche 0, 0 
Coahuila 38, 0 
Colima 0, 0 
Chiapas 3, 0 
Chihuahua 3, 0 
DF 456, 41 
Durango 4, 0 
Guanajuato 0,0 
Guerrero 2,0 
Hidalgo 3, 0 
Jalisco 60, 0 
State of Mexico 244, 6 
Michoacan 7, 1 
Morelos 0,0 
Nuevo Leon  3,0 
Nayarit 14, 0 
Oaxaca 17, 2 
Puebla 0, 0 
Queretaro 27, 1 
Quintana Roo 1, 0 
San Luis Potosi 68, 8 
Sinaloa 2,0 
Sonora 22, 0 
Tabasco 0, 0 
Tampaulipas 7, 1 
Tlaxcala 0, 0 
Veracruz 18, 0 
Yucatan 41, 0 
Zacatecas 26, 0 
Unclassified cases 370, 21 
Total 1455, 84 
 
 
¶5.  (U) MANAGEMENT ISSUES: 
-------------------------- 
 
Charge Basset has approved liberal leave for employees with childcare, transportation or family illness concerns. 
 
The Embassy Information Hotline is being updated frequently. 
 
The EAC will meet at 9 AM CST on April 27. 
 
Charge Bassett will host a virtual town hall meeting at 4 PM CST to provide an update on the influenza outbreak.  The virtual town hall meeting will be conducted via the internet through a live webcast in an effort to minimize public gatherings.  Mission employees, consulates and family members will be invited to participate. 
 
¶6.  (U) SECURITY ISSUES: 
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RSO is working with the local guard services and diplomatic police on contingency plans to ensure we maintain adequate coverage of all mission facilities. 
 
¶7.  (U) CONSULAR ISSUES: 
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The Embassy issued an updated warden message April 26, the  third in three days.  The new message tracks closely with the Travel Health Precaution issued by the CDC earlier on April 26. 
 
Embassy Mexico received approximately 30 swine-flu related calls on April 26.  Most of the callers were inquiring about the schedule for Consular Services (non-essential public services have been suspended) and travel restrictions to the U.S. 
 
¶8.  (U) BORDER ISSUES: 
---------------------- 
 
According to the Ministry of Health, 17 of 32 Mexican states have reported possible cases of influenza.  The majority of reported cases are in Central Mexico, and we have not received any reports from our Consulates of growing concerns in Northern Mexican communities. 
 
¶9.  (U) MEDIA REACTION/GENERAL POPULATION SENTIMENTS: 
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Press coverage on Sunday, April 26 focused on the continuing precautions being employed to prevent the spread of the swine flu.  All dailies mentioned the U.S. Embassy,s announcement that visa services will be suspended next week and that only passports and reports of birth will be accepted in the 
American Citizen Services office.  Several dailies noted that  the U.S. has not imposed any travel restrictions.  On the outbreak in general, according to &Milenio,8 20 deaths have been attributed to the swine flu and another 61 are being analyzed.  Mexican dailies also noted that additional cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Kansas and New York.  &Reforma8 noted that there has been a run on 
pharmacies in Mexico City for anti-viral medication, but that the medical community urges people not to self medicate. 
 
¶10.  (U) ECONOMIC IMPACT 
------------------------ 
 
The Secretary of Transportation and several airline carriers we contacted reported that flight schedules and capacity rates were normal.  The rate of cancellations for passengers traveling to Mexico is not unusually high, nor is there any sign that passengers are leaving the city in unusual numbers. 
 Some U.S. based flight crew members have raised concerns about traveling to Mexico, but the airlines have successfully addressed these concerns with minimal disruptions. 
 
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