VZCZCXRO8719
PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHDO #0307/01 1271352
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071352Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9039
INFO RHMFIUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0747

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000307 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR AMED ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, MG, QA 
SUBJECT: TFFLU01 QATAR H1N1 STATUS REPORT 
 
REF: DOHA 288 
 
---------------- 
(SBU) KEY POINTS 
---------------- 
 
-- There are no confirmed cases of H1N1 in Qatar as of May 7, 2009. 
 
 
-- Embassy's Pandemic Influenza Working Group continues monitoring 
the situation in Qatar and coordinating preventive measures. 
Embassy and U.S. military reps will meet May 11 with Qatar's 
Director of Public Health to discuss possible future restrictions, 
particularly as they may impact U.S. military operations in/via 
Qatar. 
 
-- Qatar has stockpiles of 2.6 million N95 respirators and Tamiflu 
courses for 20 percent of the population. 
 
-- The airport has enhanced its entry screening procedures and will 
install thermal screeners by May 8.  Sick passengers will be tested 
at the airport clinic and, if type A virus is discovered, isolated 
at a local hospital until lab results confirm if it is H1N1. 
 
End Key Points. 
 
¶1. (SBU) There are no confirmed H1N1 cases in Qatar as of 1600 local 
on May 7, 2009. 
 
Embassy Actions 
--------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Embassy's Pandemic Influenza Working Group continues to 
regularly consult on latest developments.  Embassy was involved in 
quashing one rumor of a sick student/family at the American School 
of Doha, and realizes rumor control is likely to become a more 
significant need in the days to come. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Health Unit and Regional Security Office are 
collaborating on a briefing to be delivered next week to all Embassy 
staff and family members on proper hygiene and instructions on when 
to stay at home. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Embassy and U.S. military medical representatives from the 
two bases in Qatar will meet Monday, May 11 with Qatar's Director of 
Public Health to exchange information and learn about possible 
future government restrictions should the virus spread to Qatar. 
(Note: Embassy took particular note of the new policies in Kuwait 
requiring travelers to report to medical facilities within 3 and 7 
days of arrival.  Since Qatar is also used as a major transit point 
for U.S. military personnel, similar requirements here would impact 
military operations). 
 
Qatari Preparations 
------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) In a May 7 briefing, Dr. Shazia Nadeem and Dr. Ayman Diab 
from the Ministry of Health's Emergency Preparedness Division 
updated the diplomatic corps on current procedures and preparations 
in case the pandemic spreads to Qatar. 
 
¶6. (U) Qatar currently has stockpiles of 2.6 million N95 
respirators, and has an order in place to bring that to 5 million. 
(Note: Qatar's population is about 1.8 million residents maximum). 
 
¶7. (U) According to these officials, Qatar currently has stockpiles 
of Tamiflu courses for 20 percent of the population - more doses are 
on order and the GOQ expects to eventually have doses available for 
25 percent of the population. 
 
¶8. (U) The Qatari Ministry of Health is providing daily updates for 
practitioners and recommending an increase in infection control 
precautions.  The Ministry of Health has also reportedly removed 
antiviral medications from the shelves of local pharmacies to 
prevent hoarding and misuse of the medication. 
 
Travel Procedures 
----------------- 
 
¶9. (U) According to the country's national carrier, Qatar Airways, 
if passengers are identified prior to boarding any inbound or 
outbound flight as having fever or flu-like symptoms, they will be 
referred to a local medical center to determine their suitability to 
travel. 
 
 
DOHA 00000307  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶10. (U) No mandatory/compulsory entry screening measures are in 
place as of May 7, 2009. However, leaflets/questionnaires about H1N1 
are distributed to passengers during flights into Qatar. All Qatar 
Airways staff also wear masks during flights to/from affected areas 
and distribute masks to passengers, though they do not require 
passengers to wear them. 
 
¶11. (U) According to the Ministry of Health, the government will 
install six thermal screeners at the sole international airport 
(Doha) by May 8, 2009.  Two more machines are on order and will be 
installed as soon as they arrive. 
 
¶12. (U) Currently, if an arriving passenger is identified as a 
possible carrier of H1N1, they will be taken to the airport clinic 
and given a flu test.  The airport clinic has capabilities to do an 
influenza rapid test, which takes between 15 to 20 minutes to 
complete.  Specific test kits have been ordered for H1N1 and are 
expected to arrive in Qatar next week, but, until then, all 
diagnostic specimens for confirmation of H1N1 would be sent to 
NAMRU-3 Cairo.  If the passenger tests negative for type A flu, they 
will be released and allowed to leave the airport.  If they test 
positive, they will be conveyed by Civil Defense Ambulance to a 
local hospital (Hamad) for further testing, evaluation, and 
confirmation of H1N1 infection.  The passenger will be isolated and 
placed on a 5 day course of antiviral medication.  The passenger 
will not be allowed to leave the country until they have completed 
the full course of antiviral medication. 
 
¶13. (U) Currently, there is no plan in place to screen passengers 
for H1N1 as they exit Qatar. 
 
Future Actions 
-------------- 
 
¶14. (U) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Health Ministers met May 2 in 
Riyadh and will re-convene May 9. 
 
¶15. (U) The Ministry of Health is also planning increased public 
education through TV and newspapers. 
 
 
RATNEY