VZCZCXRO1261
OO RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHSG #0487 1421611
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221611Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4972
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2378
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000487 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC AND OES/IHB 
STATE FOR MED 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT AMED CASC TBIO KFLU KSAF KSEAO KPAO KSTH ECON
EAGR, CI 
SUBJECT:  TFFLU01: CHILE HAS 29 CONFIRMED H1N1 CASES; THE MOST IN 
SOUTH AMERICA 
 
REFS:  (A) Santiago 470; (B) Santiago 411; (C) Santiago 402 
 
¶1.  According to the Ministry of Health's website (www.minsal.cl), 
as of May 21, Chile has twenty-nine confirmed cases of H1N1 
influenza.  There have been no H1N1-related deaths.  Many of the 
cases are school children with mild symptoms, who are being treated 
at home. 
 
29 CONFIRMED CASES OF H1N1; MOST ARE MILD 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  The Institute of Public Health has confirmed 29 cases of 
influenza A-H1N1 in Chile.  The Ministry of Health (MOH) website 
reports that most patients have mild symptoms, similar to cases of 
seasonal influenza, and are in good enough condition to receive 
treatment at home. 
 
¶3.  The website also warns the virus is easily transmitted via 
person-to-person contact.  This is cited the reason for the number 
of cases detected in schools in the metropolitan Santiago area and 
the speed with which the outbreak has developed, i.e., up from 4 
cases less than 4 days ago (ref a).   The MOH reiterated its call 
for the population not to panic, commenting that the H1N1 outbreak 
is similar to other seasonal influenza viruses, and that Chile has 
significant experience combating flu through regular winter 
campaigns. 
 
MOH WORKING ON PREVENTATIVE CAMPAIGN WITH EDUCATORS 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶4.  The Ministries of Health and Education, along with several 
school associations, is developing a campaign in the schools to both 
report on the disease and promote preventive behaviors among 
students and staff. 
 
PRESIDENT BACHELET URGES CALM; PRAISES MOH RESPONSE 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶5.  In her May 21 state of the union address, Chile's  President, 
Michelle Bachelet, praise the MOH's "record time" for responding to 
the crisis and called for the population to remain calm because "the 
capacity of public health is up to the challenge."  She also said 
"alarmist voices" were unjustified because Chile's health system is 
prepared and can ensure proper health care for Chilean citizens. 
 
CHILD OF EMBASSY EMPLOYEE HAD CONTACT WITH H1N1 CASE 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶6.  On May 22, an Embassy Locally Employed Staff (LES) member 
reported that her child had direct contact with one of the confirmed 
H1N1 cases.  The employee's child has been diagnosed as having an 
influenza type A virus and is being tested for H1N1.  Members of the 
employee's household are taking Tamiflu and she has been advised to 
stay home from work for 7 days as a preventative measure. 
 
MASKS FOR EMBASSY EMPLOYEES 
--------------------------- 
 
¶7.  Per Department guidance, Post will be distributing masks to all 
Direct-Hire Americans, their EFMs and all LES, for use only if 
anyone becomes ill and needs to go to a health center for diagnosis 
and/or treatment.  Post's H1N1 taskforce continues to meet regularly 
and will provide updates to the Department, as needed. 
SIMONS