VZCZCXRO1075
RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHPOD RUEHRD RUEHRS
RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #1277/01 1311352
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111352Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6426
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUCNMEU/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 3841
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0509
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 2599
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0206
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1137

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 MEXICO 001277 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/MEX, WHA/PDA, STATE FOR OES/IHB, PA, CAPRESS; 
STATE FOR MED/DASHO (MCFADDEN, RINALDO, KEYES); STATE FOR 
MED/DIR (PENNER); STATE FOR DS/IP/WHA; CDC FOR 
CCID/NCPDCID, CCID/NCIRD AND COGH/DPPPC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CVIS CASC KSCA TBIO MX
SUBJECT: SITREP 15 (FINAL) - H1N1 FLU OUTBREAK IN MEXICO 
CITY 
 
REF: MEXICO 1269 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY 
-------------- 
 
Health Secretary Cordova announced in a May 8 press 
conference that the number of confirmed cases now stands at 
1319 including 45 fatalities. 
 
¶2.  (U) FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:  Mexican Ambassador to the United 
Nations, Alfonso de Alba said that Mexico will propose 
discussing unjustified discriminatory measures against 
Mexicans implemented by certain countries in the next World 
Health Assembly on May 18. 
 
 
MEXICO CITY GOVERNMENT:  Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard 
reported a 100% reactivation of activities May 8. 
 
 
¶3.  (U) ACTIONS BY NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
No new information to report. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) STATISTICS 
---------------------- 
 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: Health Secretary Cordova announced in a 
May 8 press conference that the number of confirmed cases now 
stands at 1319 including 45 fatalities.  In total, the 1,364 
confirmed cases of flu, H1N1 represent 29.4% of the tested 
samples. Cordova said that since April 26 there has been a 
decrease in new cases. 
 
 
¶5.  (SBU) MANAGEMENT ISSUES 
--------------------------- 
 
No new information to report. 
 
 
¶6.  (U) SECURITY ISSUES 
----------------------- 
 
No new information to report. 
 
 
¶7.  (U) CONSULAR ISSUES 
----------------------- 
 
CA updated Mexico's Travel Alert May 7, to include GOM 
instructions on business and public venue closures, as well 
as Mission Mexico consular services.  The new version still 
recommends against non-essential travel to Mexico, in keeping 
with current CDC guidance. Consular is expecting a 
return-to-normal work day on Monday, May 11. 
 
 
¶8.  (U) CONSULATE ISSUES 
------------------------ 
 
CIUDAD JUAREZ:  The Chihuahua State Secretary of Health and 
the El Paso Health Department report that the total number of 
confirmed cases of H1N1 virus in Chihuahua and El Paso 
remains unchanged at 4 and 7 respectively.  The El Paso 
Health Department confirmed on May 8 that it had identified 
19 new possible cases of H1N1 influenza, bringing the total 
of possible cases in El Paso to 33.  The new cases were from 
children ranging in age from 2 to 17.  Epidemiologists in El 
 
MEXICO 00001277  002 OF 006 
 
 
Paso told Post that the rise in possible cases should not be 
a cause for alarm, and is most likely due to increased 
surveillance and detection.  Health authorities in El Paso 
and Chihuahua reiterated to Post that they were confident 
that the spread of the virus will continue its downward 
trajectory. 
 
As people return to work in Juarez, anxiety over the H1N1 
virus appears to be falling.  Local media reported that H1N1 
inquiries to the city's flu hotline dropped from an average 
of 150 calls a day from May 1-4 to only 7 calls on May 5. 
Even as the public's concern over the flu virus wanes, 
military personnel delivered medical supplies to two 
hospitals in Juarez donated by the Chinese government. 
According to the spokesman for the Joint Operation Chihuahua, 
the supplies arrived to Juarez by way of Mexico's Secretary 
of Defense.  The Chinese donation included seasonal flu 
vaccines, latex gloves and respiratory masks.  Some 
Chihuahuans remain visibly displeased with the Chinese 
government for its decision to detain and quarantine Mexican 
nationals.  There were several non-violent protests reported 
throughout the state against business establishments owned by 
Mexicans of Chinese descent. 
 
On May 8, consular services continued to slowly return to 
normal.  The non-immigrant visa section interviewed 
approximately 250 applicants and the immigrant visa section 
processed 25 waiver cases.  American citizen services are 
operating normally. 
 
 
GUADALAJARA:  Following the announcement of 15 cases May 7, 
the authorities have now raised the total of confirmed H1N1 
cases in the state of Jalisco to 26.  Of these, 21 are in the 
Guadalajara metropolitan area, and five are in provincial 
towns in the eastern part of the state.  There are no 
reported cases in Puerto Vallarta.  The authorities are 
continuing to monitor 104 patients with flu-like symptoms 
statewide as possible H1N1 cases.  There have been no 
reported H1N1 influenza deaths in Jalisco.  Nevertheless, the 
new disclosures have prompted some people to question whether 
the authorities may have deliberately dragged their feet in 
confirming the presence of the H1N1 virus in Jalisco. 
Governor Emilio Gonzalez Marquez issued a decree late Friday 
requiring schools to remain closed until May 18, in view of 
the rise in H1N1 cases. 
 
The Director of the American School Foundation of Guadalajara 
(ASFG) ) the school attended by the majority of Consulate 
children - announced that a student had tested positive for 
H1N1 influenza.  This student has fully recovered, but high 
school classes that had resumed yesterday were canceled today 
as a precaution.  The school will be completely disinfected 
over the weekend, and plans to reopen on May 11 for all 
students unless state health authorities direct otherwise. 
ASFG, like all other schools in Jalisco, has been closed 
since April 28. 
 
ACS Guadalajara and the Consular Agency in Puerto Vallarta 
reported handling normal caseloads today.  The number of 
inquiries from American citizens regarding the influenza 
situation is much lower now than last week. 
 
 
HERMOSILLO:  The State of Sinaloa reports no change in the 
H1N1 situation there ) still no laboratory confirmed cases 
in the state. 
 
The Secretary of Health for Sonora today reported four 
additional laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1 in Sonora since 
5-6-09.  All victims are receiving treatment and recovering 
well.  Sonora is launching a public information campaign 
focused on the schools and public places that include flyers 
 
MEXICO 00001277  003 OF 006 
 
 
and posters about basic hygiene and steps to take if flu 
symptoms are present. 
 
 
MATAMOROS:  No new information to report. 
 
MERIDA: The Governor of Quintana Roo announced May 7 that 16 
hotels (with 10,000 rooms) are now closed temporarily.  The 
closures will most likely last until June 15.  As a result, 
approximately 10,000 employees have been discharged.  The 
Governor explained that the State has seen an 85 percent drop 
in international tourism and a 40 percent drop in national 
tourism.  Hotel occupancy in Cancun remains near 20 percent 
and today, the airport reports 45 canceled flights, the 
majority of which are international.  188 flights are 
operating at the Cancun Airport with very few arriving 
passengers. 
In Yucatan, hotel occupancy remains around 20 percent and 
local contacts are preparing for a difficult summer.   Some 
business leaders are beginning to report that many of the 
effects are more directly related to the economy than to the 
influenza outbreak. 
 
MONTERREY:  The number of H1N1 flu cases in the consular 
district has stabilized, but despite government appeals to 
the public to keep up their guard, most people are taking 
fewer measures to protect against the H1N1 flu.  State 
governments continue to clean schools. The Governor of San 
Luis Potosi warned that people need to change their health 
habits because the flu is here to stay.  However, most people 
feel relief and act with the expectation that the H1N1 flu is 
behind them.  For example, in the IMSS hospital and state 
health office in Monterrey people were not using face masks 
and were crowding together.  Similarly, at the Monterrey city 
hall, there was an information booth about H1N1 flu, but no 
one used face masks in a crowded elevator and people greeted 
each other normally during meetings.  Meanwhile, business 
leaders are claiming large losses due to the shutdown May 
1-5, and they hope to recoup some losses from the government. 
 
 
Nuevo Leon high schools and universities opened on May 7. 
All of the students were checked for H1N1 flu, and several 
were sent home. However, there were news reports that several 
Nuevo Leon high schools and universities lacked sanitary 
measures such as anti-bacterial hand wash and paper towels. 
 
In addition to San Luis Potosi, Nuevo Leon will soon have a 
laboratory capable of testing 25-30 cases for H1N1 flu.  The 
Secretary of Health is working with three local universities. 
 These additional medical facilities addresses one of the 
most troubling parts of Mexico's response, the long delays in 
confirming cases as H1N1 flu. 
 
There are no suspected cases of H1N1 flu among FSO or LES 
staff or their dependents.  In both ACS and NIV, fewer 
clients appeared than on normal days before the shutdown. 
More than 1, 695 H2 interviews are scheduled May 12-15, 
mainly H2B's  There are still plenty of available H2 slots 
open next week. 
 
 
NOGALES:  Post has resumed public operations and will return 
to full operations Monday, May 11. 
 
 
NUEVO LAREDO:  The public is calm and many people continue to 
wear face masks but in decreasing numbers. Public awareness 
remains high regarding the possibility of contacting H1N1 but 
public anxiety seems to be decreasing.  There are still no 
confirmed cases of H1N1 in Nuevo Laredo. However, according 
to the local newspaper in Nuevo Laredo, a high school student 
in Laredo, Texas is suspected of having H1N1 and is currently 
 
MEXICO 00001277  004 OF 006 
 
 
waiting for results. The subject was vacationing in Houston 
and began to feel sick and demonstrated H1N1 virus symptoms. 
 The head of public health in Laredo, Texas mentioned the 
subject is recovering very fast and that he will be able to 
go back to school on Monday when classes start again. The 
Laredo public health director also mentioned there are 59 
possible cases in Laredo.  Out of the 59 cases, 11 were 
hospitalized and seven were already released from the 
hospital. The suspect cases are from persons between the ages 
of 8 months and 60 years of age, however none of them is 
severely ill. 
 
TIJUANA:  No new cases have been identified in Baja 
California nor in Baja California Sur, which remains free of 
any confirmed H1N1 cases.  The results of 13 samples sent 
between April 25-27 have not yet been received.  A total of 
493 samples were sent.  The state health secretary announced 
late yesterday that in two days Baja would have a lab capable 
of testing the samples and would no longer need to send them 
to Mexico City.  Schools that re-opened yesterday reported a 
95% attendance among students and faculty. Border crossings 
are normal. 
 
 
 
¶9.  (U) MEDIA REACTION/GENERAL POPULATION SENTIMENTS 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
On May 8, the Mexican media were almost back to &business as 
usual.8 Only two newspapers, El Sol de Mexico and La Cronica 
had reports of the A H1N1 influenza outbreak as their feature 
stories ) most newspapers concentrated on grim economic news 
from the Finance Secretariat. Coverage of the H1N1 flu 
focused mostly on efforts to sanitize schools for the massive 
return to class on May 11. The Secretary of Public Education 
confirmed that classes are scheduled to restart on Monday, 
and added that the participation of families and school 
authorities will be vital to keep sick children at home. 
 
Reports also highlight that the swine industry in Mexico has 
suffered multi-million dollar losses as sales have dropped 
close to 70%. The strength of the North American community 
was once again reported positively. &Mexico, the U.S. and 
Canada have joined forces to demand their trading partners 
not to restrict sales of pork and swine products.8 On this 
line, there were also abundant reports of the Appreciation 
ceremony at Mexico's Foreign Ministry where the 
Undersecretary for North American Affairs Carlos Rico stated 
that the fact that the U.S.-Mexico border remained open 
during the outbreak shows that &with joint responsibility 
both countries can solve the gravest of circumstances.8 
Reports also mentioned the WHO warning that if the H1N1 
influenza turned into a pandemic, one third of the world 
population could become infected. 
 
 
 
¶10.  (U) ECONOMIC IMPACT 
------------------------ 
 
MERIDA:  Several hotels in Quintana Roo decided to shutdown 
given the low occupancy rate.  Secretary of Tourism, Rodolfo 
Elizondo, said that these hotels are owned by foreign 
investors, mainly from Spain.  The temporary closure of these 
hotels will leave 19,000 people without a job.  In order to 
protect the existing 2.2 million jobs in the sector, Elizondo 
will meet today with Secretary of Labor Lozano to develop a 
special program for the sector. The hotel occupancy rate has 
fallen from between 60 and 80% to 10 and 15%.  Elizondo noted 
that the measures announced by Carstens this week will not be 
enough to help the sector.  He pledged to lobby for more 
fiscal incentives for the sector. 
 
 
MEXICO 00001277  005 OF 006 
 
 
MONTERREY: Several business leaders estimated that companies 
suffered substantial losses from the May 1-5 closures. 
Guillermo Dillon of the large Nuevo Leon employers 
association Caintra estimated that all businesses, including 
manufacturing, tourism and services, had lost 6 billion 
pesos.  In Zacatecas, the head of the hotel association said 
that hotel occupancy was only 6.4% (against a normal 30%), 
making it hard for hotels to pay expenses such as salaries, 
water, and other utilities.  Zacatecas (just like Nuevo 
Leon), reported that all weddings, conventions and other 
events had been canceled.  One bright note is that common 
crime fell 30% in San Luis Potosi during the H1N1 flu crisis. 
 
TIJUANA: The Baja labor office (STPS) responded to inquiries 
from businesses which had to close as to whether they needed 
to pay their employees for those days with a resounding 
&yes.8  He stated that, even though it was not so stated in 
the presidential decree, the law (Article 18 of the Labor 
Law) gives the benefit of the doubt to the worker. 
 
 
¶11.  (SBU) TRANSPORTATION 
----------------------- 
 
Mexicana's CEO called the Embassy to request the CDC repeal 
its Mexico travel warning.  Mexicana's domestic volume is 
rebounding after the weak holiday weekend, but international 
travel continues to fall.  Daily flights to Los Angeles from 
across the Mexicana network, normally 25, numbered 10 on 8 
May.  System wide, the company canceled 140 of 360 scheduled 
flights on 7 May.  Aside from their request for USG action, 
the company echoed many carriers in asking the GOM do more to 
help the industry.  Thomas Cook, one of several package tour 
companies that fill flights to Mexico for European carriers, 
announced it would resume Mexico travel on 19 May.  Ecuador 
announced it would end its suspension of air traffic from 
Mexico.  Argentina, which agreed to reopen the Mexico 
City-Buenos Aires route on 4 May, continued to drag its feet 
on resumption of service. 
 
¶12.  (U) POLITICAL IMPACT 
------------------------- 
 
The slumping economy and the bloody drug war had been Mexican 
voters, top worries ahead of midterm elections in July. 
However the AH1N1 virus has gained top billing in the 
campaign.  Pollsters, who had found President Calderon's 
governing National Action Party lagging before the flu bug 
hit, are scrambling to see how the influenza outbreak may 
have changed the dynamics of the election season. Did Mr. 
Calderon's government overreact?  Or did it skillfully manage 
the crisis and keep deaths down?  In a natural disaster, the 
ruling party is hurt with a slow or corrupt response. 
However, no government has ever seen anything like this 
current outbreak.  The candidates vying for local, state and 
federal positions on July 5 are required to take precautions, 
including using antibacterial hand gel liberally, to avoid 
spreading the influenza virus.  Large political rallies of 
more than 40 people are discouraged and closed-door strategy 
sessions should allow a generous 7.2 feet between every 
attendee.  With big rallies ruled out, campaigns are pouring 
more money into virtual outreach through the Internet and 
even text messages.  And while candidates continue to espouse 
proposals to revive the economy and increase security, they 
are clearly trying to use the health crisis to their 
advantage.  Hand gels and face masks have become the new free 
items handed out by office seekers, trumping T-shirts and 
baseball ats.  And in some cases, candidates have even 
stamped the masks with their names and party logos, turning 
voters, faces into mobile campaign billboards. 
 
 
¶13.  (U) U.S. ASSISTANCE 
 
MEXICO 00001277  006 OF 006 
 
 
------------------------ 
 
CDC and the Embassy are working together to develop an action 
plan to address the weaknesses in Mexico's health program and 
better prepare for future heath emergencies. 
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