VZCZCXRO9456
RR RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHGH RUEHPB RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #1245 1280956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080956Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3901
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP/ISA/AP//
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC//J2/J3/J5//
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J00/J2/J3/J5//

UNCLAS BEIJING 001245 
 
HHS FOR OGHA 
CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID, AND PASS TO FLU COX AND MOUNTS AND 
COGH BLOUNT AND KELLEY 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG, EAGR, HHS, TF, CH 
SUBJECT:  TFFLU01: H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK - CHINA SITREP # 7 
 
REF: A) BEIJING 1224 B) BEIJING 1218  C) BEIJING 1210 
D) BEIJING 1191    E) BEIJING 1171   F) HONG KONG 802 
 
 
 
ONE AMERICAN CITIZEN RELEASED, FIVE STILL IN QUARANTINE 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶1. (U) As of COB on May 8 Beijing Time, there are no confirmed cases 
of infection of humans or livestock by the A/H1N1 influenza virus on 
Mainland China.  One case was confirmed in Hong Kong on May 1 (REF 
F). 
 
¶2. (SBU) The 20-year old American citizen who had been in quarantine 
since May 2 was released on May 8.  Post received information from 
the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) that two more Americans 
entered into quarantine this week, one on May 5 and one on May 7. 
In addition, a family of three Americans remains in quarantine as 
well (since May 6), bringing the total number currently in 
quarantine in hospital to five.  Embassy Beijing is in touch with 
all five. 
 
--Beijing ACS has confirmed the 20 year-old male who had been in 
quarantine in Beijing at Ditan Hospital since afternoon of Saturday 
May 2 was released on May 8. 
 
--A family of three American citizens (50 year-old male, 42 year-old 
female, and 22 month-old child) remains in quarantine at Ditan 
Hospital.  They arrived in Beijing on May 6 on United Airlines 581 
from Philadelphia.  Beijing ACS has been in daily contact since the 
family first reported their status on May 7. 
 
--Beijing FAO informed Post late on May 7 that a 38-year old male 
American citizen is in quarantine at Ditan Hospital.  According to 
Beijing FAO, he arrived in Beijing on May 5 and was initially placed 
into Guomen Hotel for observation.  On May 6, he was transferred to 
Ditan Hospital, where he remains.  Beijing ACS is in the process of 
establishing direct contact with him. 
 
--Beijing FAO informed post on May 8 that a 29 year-old American 
woman is also currently under observation at Guomen Hotel.  She 
arrived in Beijing on May 7 on United 851 from Chicago and was 
initially taken to Ditan Hospital before being transferred to the 
hotel on May 8.  Beijing ACS has been in direct contact with her. 
 
 
¶3. (SBU)  In the course of making routine inquiries about the status 
of American citizens in quarantine on May 8, Ditan Hospital 
officials informed Beijing ACS that they would no longer provide 
information directly to the Embassy.  All future inquiries must now 
be directed to the Beijing FAO. 
 
 
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE 
------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Outbreak-associated H1N1 test kits and viral isolates from 
U.S. CDC were delayed earlier in the week and are currently en 
route. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Beijing Consul General met with the CUI Aimin, Counselor 
for the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 
May 7.  Cui assured her that China's visa policy "has not changed" 
and was not "targeted" toward American citizens.   Cui also 
indicated that requests for expedited processing in some cases would 
still be accepted. 
 
 
PICCUTA