VZCZCXRO5998
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RUEHKR RUEHKSO RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA
RUEHMC RUEHMJ RUEHMR RUEHMRE RUEHMT RUEHNAG RUEHNEH RUEHNG RUEHNH
RUEHNL RUEHNP RUEHNZ RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHPD RUEHPOD RUEHPT RUEHPW RUEHQU
RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHRS RUEHSK RUEHTM RUEHTRO RUEHVC
RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHC #0285/01 1360210
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 160156Z MAY 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 7395
INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3/J4/J5// PRIORITY
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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RHMFIUU/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
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RHMFIUU/CDR USJFCOM NORFOLK VA PRIORITY
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RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
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RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 050285 
 
SIPDIS 
AID FOR AIDAA, DCHAOFDA, DCHAFFP, DCHAOMA, AADCHA, 
AFRAA, ANEAA, EEAA, LACAA, EGATAA, GHAA 
PASS TO USAID/DIRECTORS/REPS, AMEMBASSY DCMS 
PASS TO MISSION DISASTER RELIEF OFFICERS 
OMB FOR NSCHWARTZ 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
ROME FOR HSPANOS 
NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO 
BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: REF SOCI EAID
SUBJECT: H1N1 -- UPDATE AND GUIDANCE 
 
REF:    STATE 116623 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  This is a joint cable to provide an update 
and guidance regarding the H1N1 situation from USAID's 
Global Health Bureau's Avian and Pandemic Influenza Unit 
and the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian 
Assistance's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. 
 
¶2. The identification in the United States and Mexico in 
early April of cases of humans infected with the novel 
influenza A/H1N1 virus led to conerns about a pending 
influenza pandemic.  By April 29th, 2009, the virus had 
spread to three continents, and the U.N. World Health 
Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic alert level to 
Phase Five.  The virus continues to spread efficiently 
between humans.  Further characterization of the virus, 
however, indicated that the virus is largely responsible 
for mild cases of influenza.   Scientists are concerned 
about the possible occurrence of large outbreaks of 
novel influenza H1N1 as the seasonal influenza season 
commences in the southern hemisphere. 
 
 
¶3.  USAID is working closely with other U.S. Government 
agencies and international partners to monitor for any 
changes in the virulence of the novel influenza H1N1 
virus and is encouraging missions to assist national 
authorities to strengthen their pandemic readiness 
capacities.  At this stage of the outbreak, a disaster 
declaration is not/not the recommended course of action. 
In addition, missions are requested to postpone until 
further notice any additional requests for personal 
protective equipment (PPE) kits and other commodities. 
This communique is intended to provide an update and 
guidance to missions regarding next steps in planning 
and preparation should the virus mutate to a more 
virulent form.  Further updates will be provided once 
more information is available.  End summary. 
 
-------------------------------- 
CURRENT STATUS OF THE H1N1 VIRUS 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶4. Since early April, cases of human infection with the 
influenza A/H1N1 virus have been confirmed in 30 
countries.  On April 29th, 2009, WHO raised its pandemic 
alert level to Phase Five, indicating sustained human- 
to-human spread of a novel virus in two countries in one 
WHO region.  As of May 13 at 0600 hours GMT, 33 
countries had officially reported 5,728 cases of 2009 
H1N1 influenza, including newly confirmed cases in 
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, mainland China, Cuba, 
Finland, Panama, and Thailand, according to WHO. 
 
¶5. As of May 13, WHO had reported 61 deaths associated 
with 2009 H1N1 influenza, including the first 2009 H1N1 
influenza-related deaths in Canada and Costa Rica. 
 
¶6. To date, the following observations can be made, 
specifically about the H1N1 virus, and more generally 
about the vulnerability of the world population: 
 
 
STATE 00050285  002 OF 004 
 
 
¶A. The novel H1N1 virus strain causing the current 
outbreaks is a new virus that has not been seen 
previously in either humans or animals. 
 
The influenza experts believe that pre-existing immunity 
to the novel H1N1 virus will be low or non-existent. 
This means that more people will be susceptible to novel 
H1N1 virus than to the usual seasonal influenza viruses. 
 
 
¶B. The spectrum of illness from infection with novel 
influenza H1N1 is still being studied. It appears to be 
similar to seasonal influenza. Complications from novel 
H1N1 influenza are though to occur more frequently among 
the same groups in which complications of seasonal 
influenza occur (i.e., very young, very old, persons 
with underlying chronic medical conditions, pregnant 
women). 
 
¶C. Although cases of novel H1N1 influenza have been 
confirmed in all age groups, from infants to the 
elderly, the most highly affected age group has been 5- 
24 year olds. 
 
¶7. Scientists are concerned about the possible 
occurrence of large outbreaks of novel influenza H1N1 as 
the sasonal influenza season commences in the southern 
hemisphere. 
 
¶8. While there is no certainty that this virus will ever 
pose a larger threat, should a more deadly virus emerge 
in the coming months it will be critical that countries 
in the Northern Hemisphere and the equatorial regions of 
the world have plans and capabilities to respond to a 
pandemic threat already in place. 
 
¶9. Regular updates on the H1N1 virus can be found on the 
WHO website: 
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/in dex.html 
or the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/index.htm 
 
-------------- 
USAID RESPONSE 
-------------- 
 
¶10. As we have seen previously in the 1918 influenza 
pandemic, and then more recently in SARS, viruses may 
cause mild illness in the first wave and then re-emerge 
in a more virulent form in a subsequent wave. In other 
influenza pandemics, the virus has not become more 
virulent. Therefore, USAID's Global Health (GH) Bureau 
Avian and Pandemic Influenza Unit and the Bureau for 
Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) 
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) are 
working closely with the appropriate regional bureaus 
and USG and international partners to be able to quickly 
ascertain any possible emergence of a more virulent 
virus, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. 
 
¶11. In coordination with other USG agencies and 
international partners, GH and DCHA are also currently 
developing a comprehensive plan for the provision of 
emergency support should the virus mutate to a more 
virulent strain.  This plan will include support for the 
prevention of infection, procurement and distribution of 
anti-viral medications for treatment of influenza and 
antibiotics for treatment of secondary bacterial 
 
STATE 00050285  003 OF 004 
 
 
infections, support for training and community 
awareness, support for improved surveillance of the 
disease, and provision of access to food. 
 
-------------------- 
GUIDANCE TO MISSIONS 
-------------------- 
 
¶12. For the moment, the virus appears to be mild and 
does not pose an imminent public health threat. 
However, because the possibility exists that a more 
virulent strain might emerge in the coming months, 
missions are urged to use this period to assist 
countries with updating and exercising pandemic 
preparedness plans.  Practical guides, tools and 
training materials, as well as links to USAID's pandemic 
planning partners that provide technical assistance, are 
available at www.pandemicpreparedness.org. 
 
¶13. As part of GH's and DCHA's preparations for the 
possible emergence of a more virulent virus, we are 
conducting a comprehensive strategic review of commodity 
needs and resource availability with other USG and 
international partners.  To assist this review, missions 
are requested to postpone until further notice any 
additional requests for personal protective equipment 
kits and other commodities in response to the H1N1 
outbreak.  This will allow GH and DCHA to be optimally 
responsive and ensure access and availability to life- 
saving commodities should this virus become a more 
virulent threat. 
 
--------------------- 
DISASTER DECLARATIONS 
--------------------- 
 
¶14. Disaster declarations are not/not the recommended 
course of action at this stage of the outbreak.  If WHO 
raises the pandemic alert level to Phase Six but the 
virus remains mild, then we will continue to remain 
vigilant, but we will not consider the virus to be an 
imminent threat.  USAID/OFDA regional advisors should be 
the first point of contact if assistance is requested in 
response to the pandemic influenza. USAID/OFDA maintains 
regional offices in several locations worldwide to 
assist in disaster response and to develop risk 
management strategies.  USAID/OFDA/Washington strongly 
advises posts, especially Mission Disaster Relief 
Officers (MDROs), to maintain regular communication with 
the USAID/OFDA regional advisors.  Contact information 
for the USAID/OFDA regional offices is as follows:  East 
and Central Africa regional office ++ 254-(0) 20-862- 
2711; Southern Africa regional office, ++ 27-12-452- 
2000; West Africa regional office ++ 221-33-869-6164; 
Asia and the Pacific regional office ++66-2-263-7979; 
Europe, Middle East, Central Asia regional office ++ 1- 
703-981-1726; Latin America and the Caribbean regional 
office ++506-2296-3554. 
 
¶15. In the event that the regional advisor can not be 
contacted, missions/embassies may call the USAID 
Pandemic Influenza Response Management Team (RMT) at 
202-712-0031 in Washington, D.C., for assistance.  After 
business hours, evenings and weekends, and holidays, the 
USAID/OFDA duty officer may be contacted by phone at 
301-675-5933 or by email at ofdadutyofficer@usaid.gov. 
Alternatively, the USAID/OFDA Duty Officer may be 
 
STATE 00050285  004 OF 004 
 
 
reached by calling the State Department's operations 
center at 202-647-1512.  USAID/OFDA's fax numbers are 
202-216-3706/3191. 
 
¶16. For further information, please contact Dr. Dennis 
Carroll, Director of the Avian and Pandemic Influenza 
Unit 202-712-5009, dcarroll@usaid.gov, or Peter Morris, 
Response Manager of the USAID RMT 202-712-1095, 
pmorris@usaid.gov. 
 
¶17. Minimize considered. 
CLINTON