VZCZCXRO9371
PP RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHUL #0729/01 1280725
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080725Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4257
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 0007
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SEOUL 000729 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AIAG (DAVID WINN), DEPT PASS TO AID (DENNIS 
CARROLL) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, MG, KS 
SUBJECT: MGSF01: PUBLIC OUTREACH AND SURVEILLANCE RESULT IN 
THREE H1N1 INFLUENZA CASES DETECTED IN KOREA 
 
 ¶1.  Summary:  South Korea has confirmed three cases of H1N1 
influenza during the recent outbreaks.  The first case was a 
nun who had recently returned from a visit to Mexico.  The 
second case was a nun at the same convent who had close 
contact with the first.  The third case was a woman who was 
on the same airline flight as the first.  None of the 
individuals developed serious illness.  All were treated with 
Tamiflu and subsequently discharged from in-patient medical 
facilities.  A National Swine Flu Task Force established 
under the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs 
(MHWFA) deployed 38 infrared thermal detectors to screen 
arrivals and bolstered quarantine staffing at the country,s 
international airports and seaports.  Approximately 400 
people who either had contact with the three infected persons 
or who themselves exhibited fever or other flu-like symptoms 
after traveling abroad have tested negative for the H1N1 
virus.  The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and 
Fisheries (MIFAFF) temporarily banned the import of live 
swine from North America and is testing all imported pork for 
the presence of the H1N1 virus.  Signs posted at the airport 
and enhanced surveillance were instrumental in the detection 
of Korea's three H1N1 influenza cases.  End summary. 
 
Three Persons Test Positive, Treated, and Released 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶2.  Korea,s first case of H1N1 influenza was a 51-year-old 
nun who spent a week in Mexico from April 18 to 25.  On 
arrival at Incheon Airport April 26 on a flight from Los 
Angeles she saw signs informing recent visitors to Mexico 
experiencing flu-like symptoms to report to health 
authorities.  With a cough, runny nose and a fever of 37.7 C 
(99.9 F), she voluntarily went to a public health clinic the 
following day where rapid antigen screening tests detected 
influenza type A infection.  The patient began a course of 
oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and was advised to remain at home under 
appropriate quarantine precautions.  After H1N1 influenza was 
confirmed on May 2 using MDCK cell culture laboratory method, 
the patient was moved to an isolation ward at the ROK Armed 
Forces Medical Command (AFMC) Capital Hospital.  After 
completing the Tamiflu treatment and full recovery from the 
minor symptoms, she was discharged from the hospital on May 4. 
 
¶3.  ROK health officials tested the other 39 nuns who resided 
in the convent with the first case and advised them to 
quarantine themselves.  In addition, health officials began 
tracking down and testing the passengers who arrived in Korea 
on the same airline flight as the infected nun.  These 
proactive surveillance measures detected the other two cases: 
One was a 44-year-old nun who had driven the original 
H1N1-infected nun home from the airport on April 26 and who 
developed mild flu-like symptoms; the other was a 62-year-old 
woman who sat six rows behind the infected nun on the 
airplane and who displayed neither fever nor any other 
flu-like symptom (she had spent the previous six months 
visiting relatives in Arizona).  Both of these additional 
cases were confirmed H1N1 by cell culture, placed in 
isolation at ROK AFMC Capital Hospital, treated with Tamiflu, 
and discharged on May 6 and May 7, respectively. 
 
Government Response: Stepped Up Surveillance and Control 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
¶4.  On April 26, the ROKG established a National Swine Flu 
Task Force under the Korean Centers for Disease Control, 
which was subsequently moved on April 30 to the central MHWHA 
under the direct supervision of the Minister of Health. 
Through the Task Force, the ROKG implemented several response 
and control measures, including dispatching 45 staff to 
reinforce the 69 quarantine officials already in place at the 
country,s ports of entry. 
 
¶5.  The MHWFA stepped up surveillance of international 
arrivals by deploying 38 infrared temperature scanners at 
international airports and seaports.  The scanners are set to 
detect individuals with a body temperature of 38 degrees C 
(100.4 degrees F).  Anyone found to have an elevated 
temperature is re-checked by quarantine officials using a 
more precise ear thermometer.  Individuals with a fever are 
not placed in quarantine; instead, they are instructed to 
report to a health facility for testing. 
 
¶6.  The Task Force also initiated screening of all persons 
who may have had contact with the three confirmed H1N1 cases 
by rapid antigen testing.  Those tested included the 39 nuns 
who lived in the same convent as the first confirmed case, 5 
healthcare providers at the hospital where she was treated, 
and 185 people who were on the same airline flight from Los 
 
SEOUL 00000729  002 OF 002 
 
 
Angeles.  (Note: Of the 337 people on that flight, 140 people 
were excluded from testing because they were either transit 
passengers or short-term visitors.  The MHWFA was unable to 
track down the remaining 12 passengers.) 
 
¶7.  The healthcare system has also tested approximately 200 
other persons who recently traveled abroad and who had a 
fever or other flu-like systems.  None of these have tested 
positive. 
 
¶8.  The Task Force put five hospitals on alert to prepare 197 
isolation beds in case of a more widespread outbreak.  The 
hospitals are the National Medical Center in Seoul (68 
isolation beds), ROK AFMC Capital Hospital (28 beds), 
National Mokpo Medical Center in southern Cholla Province (50 
beds), Incheon Medical Center in Incheon (25 beds), and 
Cheonbuk University Hospital in Jeonju, northern Cholla 
Province (26 beds). 
 
¶9.  The ROKG has allocated 83.3 billion won (USD 64 million) 
to procure 2 million additional courses of Tamiflu and 
500,000 courses of the anti-viral drug Relenza ) these are 
in addition to the country,s existing supply of 2.5 million 
courses of Tamiflu.  The ROKG will also provide support to a 
team at Chungnam National University to research and develop 
a vaccine for this strain of H1N1 virus. 
 
¶10.  The ROKG posted signs throughout the country,s airports 
and other public places advising anyone who develops flu-like 
symptoms to be checked by a health-care provider. It also 
initiated education and outreach activities such as directing 
teachers to instruct school children on influenza 
precautions. The ROKG also sent information on flu symptoms 
and prevention to every government employee, and has begun 
implementing a hand-washing poster campaign, with other basic 
information on proper hygiene to reduce the risk of 
contracting influenza. 
 
¶11.  The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and 
Fisheries (MIFAFF) announced that the virus could not be 
transferred from eating pork, but that it would nonetheless 
commence testing of all imported pork from North America to 
relieve concerns among consumers; MIFAFF later extended the 
testing to all imported pork regardless of origin.  On May 6, 
MIFAFF issued a press release that it had tested a total of 
255 metric tons of pork from North America (10MT from Mexico, 
42 MT from the United States, and 112 MT from Canada) that 
had all tested negative for the H1N1 virus.  On April 28, 
MIFAFF placed a ban on all imported live swine from North 
America as a temporary measure in an attempt to prohibit the 
introduction of the H1N1 virus entering with live swine 
imports.  The ROKG has not yet provided a response to the 
U.S. request for Korea to lift its ban on imported live swine. 
 
Embassy Response: EAC Meeting, Info Sharing, Monitoring 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
¶12.  The Embassy Emergency Action Committee (EAC) convened on 
April 30, reviewed the Embassy Pandemic Tripwires and 
Response Plan, and decided to take several actions.  As a 
result, a Pandemic Working Group was created to monitor the 
situation and report back to the EAC as necessary.  An 
information message was sent via e-mail to the Embassy 
community, and a warden message was transmitted to U.S. 
citizens in Korea to keep them fully informed.  RSO 
coordinated with local schools on their response, and ESTH 
has been participating in conference calls with U.S. Forces 
Korea.  Management reviewed the Embassy,s supplies of 
anti-viral medications and personal protective equipment and 
decided to procure additional hand sanitizers for various 
offices and rapid influenza test kits for use by the Health 
Unit. 
 
¶13.  Comment: Korea is generally viewed as having a strong 
healthcare infrastructure, as well as valuable experience in 
prevention, containment and control of SARS and avian 
influenza.  If not for the public information signs posted at 
the airport, the country's first case may have gone 
undetected.  And if not for MHWFA's enhanced surveillance 
following the first infection, the other two cases might also 
have gone undetected.  Post will continue to maintain close 
contact with the MHWFA and will report on any further 
developments. 
STANTON