VZCZCXRO1333
OO RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHSG #0402/01 1182054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 282054Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4868
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2335
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTIAGO 000402 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC AND OES/IHB 
STATE FOR MED 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT AMED CASC TBIO KFLU KSAF KSEAO KPAO KSTH ECON
EAGR, CI 
SUBJECT:  CHILE'S SWINE FLU RESPONSE -- AIRPORT SCREENING AND 
MEDICAL READINESS 
 
REFS:  State 41768 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  No human cases of swine flu have been reported in 
Chile.  The Chilean government on April 24 began scanning passengers 
arriving from Mexico and the U.S. at Santiago's International 
Airport, for fevers using non-invasive fever detectors.  Consul 
General observed the screening process and characterized it as 
organized and professional.  According to the Ministry of Health, 
suspected cases of swine flu will be transferred to a local hospital 
for further virological screening and observation.  The GOC also 
recommended Chileans not travel to Mexico and the U.S.  Embassy 
Santiago established a Swine Flu Working Group (SFWG) to coordinate 
post's information dissemination and response to the health threat. 
End summary. 
 
National Health Emergency Committee Activated 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) In reaction to the World Health Organization (WHO) warning of 
an outbreak of swine influenza in the U.S. and Mexico, Chile's 
Ministry of Health on April 23 activated the National Committee for 
Emergency Response to Outbreak and Disease.  According to Ministry 
of Health officials, Chile has adapted its national preparedness 
plan for pandemic influenza, which outlines strategic measures for 
health care personnel and the general population, to the current 
situation. 
 
No Confirmed Swine Flu Cases in Chile 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) There are no confirmed human cases of swine flu  reported in 
Chile and the Chileans have used clinical testing to rule out 
several cases of concern.  The Ministry of Health reported on April 
24 that there were three unconfirmed cases of flu under clinical 
review in Chile.  Minister of Health Alvaro Erazo reported on April 
26 that two of the three cases had undergone two virological 
diagnostic tests (IFI and PCR) with negative results.  According to 
Erazo, the third patient had negative PCR results and was awaiting 
further test results. 
 
Airport Fever Scanning:  Organized and Professional 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶4. (U) The Ministry of Health established on April 24 a "sanitary 
barrier" for entry into Chile by requiring all travelers from Mexico 
and United States be evaluated at the International Airport Arturo 
Merino Benitez, using a thermal fever scanner.  The GOC also stated 
that all travelers from affected areas showing symptoms of 
respiratory illness, such as fever, muscle aches, headaches, etc., 
will be immediately transferred for evaluation from the airport to 
the Hospital del Torax, in the case of adults or the Calvo Mackenna 
Hospital, in the case of children. 
 
¶5.  (U) On April 28, CG Chris Bendsen visited Santiago's airport and 
observed health officials screening passengers arriving from Mexico 
City.  He characterized the operation as "very organized and 
professional."  Health officials told him about ten flights per day 
are being checked and they have screened approximately 3000 
passengers since April 24.  [Note: Total domestic and international 
arrivals at the airport are around 8000 passengers per day.  End 
note.]  The Chilean authorities explained that the current screening 
process was originally developed in response to concerns about avian 
flu.  Bendsen noted Health Ministry officials were very cooperative 
but exhausted; six to ten staff are now working in eight hour 
shifts, but some staff worked longer hours over the weekend. 
 
¶6. (U) Travelers on flights from Mexico and the U.S., including 
crew, complete a declaration and are screened using a thermal fever 
scanner (reportedly one of the only such scanners in use in Latin 
America).  The passengers wait in the dedicated arrival lounge until 
every passenger has been screened.  The process for about 200 people 
arriving from Mexico took about 40 minutes.  Officials noted that 
passengers arriving from Mexico are also screened before departing 
Mexico.  Bendsen observed that about a third to half of arriving 
passengers were wearing surgical masks and all of the health 
officials and airport staff were wearing masks and some wore 
 
SANTIAGO 00000402  002 OF 003 
 
 
surgical gloves. 
 
Airport Procedures For Suspect Cases 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶7. (U) Passengers who test positive for a fever are referred to a 
medical station where their temperature is taken with an ear 
thermometer and a doctor takes their medical history.  No passengers 
on the observed Mexico flight were referred to the medical station. 
Since the screening began, 22 passengers have passed through the 
medical station but no one has been transferred to the designated 
government hospitals. 
 
¶8. (U) In the event that a suspect case is identified, all 
passengers on the flight will be given a detailed briefing of 
symptoms and how to inform the Health Ministry in the event of 
possible illness.  The declaration asks for detailed information 
about each passenger's planned whereabouts for the following seven 
days. 
 
GOC Distributing Antivirals 
--------------------------- 
 
¶9. (U) The National Committee revealed on April 24 that the 
country's stock of antivirals was being distributed to health 
centers.  These doses are in addition to the 36,000 treatments 
already distributed to centers in anticipation of a possible avian 
flu pandemic. 
 
GOC Disseminating Public Health Information 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (U) Media coverage throughout the weekend focused on the swine 
flu alert, repeating messages to remain calm and take basic 
precautions, such as hand-washing.  In addition, the Ministry of 
Health's website issued recommendations similar to the Center for 
Disease Control in Atlanta, and it warns travelers to "avoid 
visiting places affected to date (Mexico, United States)."  The 
website provided the following public information resources: 
 
Health Responses:  (+56) 600-360-7777 
Ministry of Health:  www.minsal.cl; www.pandemia.cl 
World Health Organization:  www.who.int/es 
 
Embassy Swine Flu Working Group Taking Action 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) Post established an Embassy Swine Flu Working Group (SFWG) 
composed of DCM, E/POL, MGMT, PA, FAS, MED/Health Unit and CONS 
representatives.  On April 27, the SFWG met and decided to take the 
following measures: 
 
(a) Place on the Embassy web site Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 
information about swine flu with recommendations in both English and 
Spanish (Action: PA); 
(b) Send an Embassy-wide email with information from MED and CDC on 
how to take precautions (Action: MGMT, Health Unit); 
(c) Send same preventative information on swine flu to all Wardens 
(Action: CONS); 
(d) Visit airport to consult and view measures the GOC is taking 
there to prevent spread of swine flu, including temperature 
screening of passengers on some arriving flights (Action: CONS); 
(e) Consult with Health Ministry, specifically Under Secretary 
Jeanette Vega, about measures the GOC is taking (Action: FAS, 
EPOL); 
(f) Inventory medications and supplies and personal protective gear, 
e.g., mask, gloves, gowns (Action: Health Unit); 
(g) Check status of U.S. Armed Service visitor who arrived in 
country with flu symptoms on Thursday, April 23, and was directed to 
a local health clinic for appropriate testing and treatment (Action: 
Health Unit). 
 
¶12. (SBU) All of these actions have been completed except for the 
meeting with the Ministry of Health, which will take place late on 
April 28 and reported septel.  The visitor who arrived on April 23 
tested negative for swine flu. 
 
SANTIAGO 00000402  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶13. (SBU) The SFWG will meet daily as long as the situation 
warrants. 
URBAN