VZCZCXRO9463
RR RUEHCHI RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHDT #0201 2231100
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111100Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4484
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1306
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 1141
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA 0002
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 4021

UNCLAS DILI 000201 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI TT
SUBJECT: TIMOR CONFIRMS FIRST TWO CASES OF SWINE FLU 
 
¶1.  Doctors at Timor's National Hospital confirmed the country's 
first two cases of H1N1 swine flu on August 10.  The two 
patients -- one an Australian, the other Indian -- were held in 
an isolation area at the hospital while medical samples were 
forwarded to Australia for testing.  The hospital provided a 
course of Tamiflu treatment.  Both patients have already 
recovered and been released from the hospital.  Timorese health 
officials monitored 17 other suspected H1N1 patients since May 
but none tested positive for the virus. 
 
 
 
¶2.  The Timorese Government established a H1N1 task force to 
coordinate its response to swine flu infections.  The Ministry 
of Health is providing expanded screening of passengers arriving 
at Dili's airport and distributing information regarding the 
H1N1 virus.  The Government briefed local health care providers 
and NGOs at an H1N1 conference last week, requesting assistance 
in identifying possible swine flu cases. 
 
 
 
¶3.  COMMENT: Timor's health care system is rudimentary at best. 
Its best defense against a possible swine flu outbreak is early 
detection and isolation.  It is taking those steps but would 
likely require outside assistance if the number of cases rises 
dramatically.  END COMMENT. 
 
HENICK