VZCZCXRO5749
OO RUEHDE
DE RUEHMS #0653 1731319
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 221321Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0545
INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000653 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD 
NEA/PPD PAGNEW 
DBENZE 
TFK 
PAO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, MU 
SUBJECT: TFFLU01: OMAN'S MINISTRY OF HEALTH ACES FIRST H1N1 TEST 
 
REFTEL: STATE 63491 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: Five days after Oman's Ministry of Health 
confirmed three H1N1 cases among returning YES students, no 
additional cases have arisen.  The students are reportedly in 'fine' 
condition, according to the Ministry.  The MoH's reaction, beginning 
with the alert from AmidEast and the Embassy, demonstrate its 
readiness to effectively respond to H1N1, at least on a small scale. 
End Summary. 
 
EVENT SUMMARY 
 
¶2.  (U) On Tuesday, June 16, AmidEast contacted the 9 Omani YES 
participants to alert them to the possibility of H1N1, eventually 
reaching five students by end of day.  Embassy Muscat alerted the 
Ministry of Health (and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and 
Education) on June 16.  By the morning of Wednesday, June 17, the MoH 
had tracked down eight of the nine students and tested the six in 
country (two had already departed Oman for onward travel).  By end of 
day, the MoH contacted and tested the final student. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Late morning on June 17, roughly 24 hours after the alert 
from the Embassy, the MoH had confirmed three cases of H1N1 and 
initiated response measures:  students and their families were placed 
under home quarantine and issued Tamiflu; the MoH identified a 
spokesperson, diligently deferring inquiries to that one person; by 
early evening, the MoH made first public confirmation of the three 
cases via text message to cell phones; the MoH spokesperson appeared 
on evening radio and television; and a statement by the MoH ran front 
page of all daily papers the next morning.  The Ministry's 
straightforward message stated confirmation of the three cases, 
declared the patients in stable condition and noted they would be 
kept under home quarantine. 
 
STUDENT TV APPEARANCES EASE FEARS 
 
¶4.  (U)  On June 17, the same day as the confirmations, Oman TV 
interviewed one of the confirmed cases via phone.  The student said 
that she felt fine, and that she had just returned from the U.S. on a 
program through the U.S. Embassy.  On June 21, another of the three 
students, visibly in good health, appeared on Oman TV for an 
interview.  She described feeling slightly ill for a few days, but 
said that the flu quickly passed.  From subsequent online postings 
and conversations with contacts, it is evident that these interviews 
went a long distance in allaying the public's fears of the appearance 
of H1N1 in Oman. 
 
NO CHANGE IN OFFICIAL PROCEDURES 
 
¶5.  (U)  The Ministry's point person on H1N1 said that Oman would not 
implement any changes to existing procedures as a result of these 
confirmed cases.  Currently, all international passengers arriving at 
Muscat International Airport or Salalah International Airport are 
scanned by thermal imaging devices.  Passengers must also fill out 
declaration forms upon arrival flagging flu-like symptoms and 
countries visited.  Medical staff is on standby at both airports to 
conduct tests and implement 24 hour quarantining if deemed necessary. 
 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Comment: Oman's bureaucracy is not known for transparency, 
proactive public communication, or fast action, yet the Ministry of 
Health's reaction to these H1N1 cases was timely and effective, 
especially in managing the public response.  The Ministry has 
demonstrated that, when it comes to public health and H1N1, it can 
act fast and get the right information to the public.  End Comment. 
HURTADO