VZCZCXRO9764
RR RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHDH RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB
RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKL #0395/01 1410853
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 210853Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2750
INFO RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1725
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000395 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR CA/OCS/EAP 
STATE FOR M/PRI FOR RMORRITZ 
STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS FOR EPARRA 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS FOR DBISCHOF 
STATE FOR OES/AIAG FOR AMBASSSADOR LOFTIS, DWINN AND 
CPATTERSON 
STATE FOR REO/BKK FOR HHOWARD 
STATE FOR OES/IHB, AAIT, MED 
HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER AND HICKEY 
CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID AND COGH 
USDA FOR APHIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, MY 
SUBJECT: TFFLU01: MALAYSIA H1N1 UPDATE - MAY 21, 2009 
 
REF:  Kuala Lumpur 383 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  Malaysia's only two confirmed H1N1 cases will be 
released from quarantine on May 21 after the Ministry of Health 
(MOH) pronounced them both healthy.  One AmCit who had traveled with 
these individuals was released from quarantine on May 20 after 
experiencing no symptoms.  However, two more AmCits who had traveled 
on a Cathay Pacific flight from New York to Hong Kong with one of 
Hong Kong's confirmed cases were placed in quarantine the same day. 
MOH officials have confirmed that there has been no known local 
transmission of the virus.  Malaysia remains committed to a 
containment and prevention policy and is increasing its screening 
efforts.  Post issued this week a warden message and a management 
notice to update the local American citizen and Embassy communities. 
 END SUMMARY 
 
----------------- 
Out of Quarantine 
----------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Two Malaysians who had contracted H1N1 while studying in the 
U.S. are scheduled to be released from quarantine on May 21, 
according to MOH Director General Ismail Merican.  They had traveled 
to Malaysia together on May 13 and were placed under quarantine in 
government hospitals on May 15 and 16.  Both individuals responded 
well to Tamiflu treatment and all symptoms have resolved. 
 
¶3.  (U) All passengers and crew who were on the same flights with 
the infected individuals were asked to report to MOH.  222 
individuals were located and placed under home quarantine.  One 
AmCit was quarantined in hospital because he did not have a home in 
Malaysia.  All of these individuals have now been released from 
quarantine with no reported symptoms.  The standard quarantine 
period is a minimum of seven days after the potential contact.  One 
Malaysian and ten foreigners, including two AmCits, also traveled 
with the infected individuals but were not found.  One of these 
AmCits notified ConOff that he had returned to the U.S. prior to 
receiving notification of the situation.  He subsequently went to an 
emergency room in the U.S. and said he was given a clean bill of 
health.  Post is unaware of the actions of the third AmCit.  MOH has 
stopped looking for these individuals stating that they would have 
become symptomatic by now if infected. 
 
--------------- 
Into Quarantine 
--------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) Two AmCit tourists traveling together were placed under 
quarantine in government hospital in Sabah.  They were on Cathay 
Pacific flight CX831 from New York to Hong Kong on May 16 with a 
passenger who later was confirmed to have H1N1 in Hong Kong.  The 
AmCit couple continued to Kota Kinabalu where they joined a tour 
group.  Upon learning of the confirmed case in Hong Kong, MOH 
quarantined the AmCits on May 20.  Because they were tourists with 
no home in Malaysia, they were placed in hospital rather than home 
quarantine.  The other members of their tour group, none of whom had 
firsthand contact with the infected individual in Hong Kong, were 
placed under home quarantine.  MOH reports no signs of infection in 
any of these individuals.  ConOff has been in regular communication 
with the quarantined AmCits and reports that they are being treated 
well and are comfortable given the circumstances.  They are expected 
to be released on May 23 unless flu symptoms appear. 
 
-------------------- 
Cautious Containment 
-------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) With the release of the two confirmed cases from quarantine, 
local media reports claim Malaysia to be H1N1 free.  MOH's Merican 
has encouraged the public to remain calm, especially as they prepare 
for around 540 Malaysian students to come home from studying in the 
U.S. during summer break.  He has characterized the virus as "highly 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000395  002 OF 002 
 
 
contagious but mild."  MOH has more thermal scanners ready to be 
deployed but claims the 20 scanners that are already in use are 
meeting the current need.  MOH and local media have used the 
attention surrounding H1N1 to highlight other health issues, 
including the potential risk of H5N1 and recent local outbreaks of 
meningitis and influenza B. 
 
-------------- 
Post's Actions 
-------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Post issued a CA approved warden message on May 19, which 
updated the American citizen community on latest developments 
related to H1N1.  A similar management notice for Embassy personnel 
and their families was issued on May 20. 
 
 
KEITH