VZCZCXRO0139
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHDO #0556/01 2510826
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080826Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9376
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000556 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KPAO QA
SUBJECT: QATAR TRIES TO MITIGATE H1N1 PUBLIC CONCERN 
 
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(U) KEY POINTS 
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-- Despite public concern about the potential spread of H1N1 in 
Qatar following a reported death in August, the Government of Qatar 
recently announced that the academic year 2009/2010 for all 
government, semi-governmental, and independent schools will start on 
schedule. 
 
-- According to one public opinion poll, Qataris overwhelmingly 
favor a postponement, despite repeated assurances from the 
Government that the H1N1 outbreak is under control. 
 
-- The Ministry of Health also announced a seasonal influenza 
vaccination campaign for all school-age children up to 18 years of 
age.  Vaccination against H1N1 influenza will start once the 
vaccines are available, probably in late 2009 or early 2010. 
 
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(SBU) COMMENTS 
-------------- 
 
-- (SBU) Post is in regular contact with officials in the Ministry 
of Health and will report on further developments as they occur. 
 
End Key Points and Comments. 
 
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PUBLIC REACTION 
--------------- 
 
¶1. (U) Although only one H1N1-related death has been reported in 
Qatar as of August 31, Qataris appear somewhat panicked by the 
influenza's global reach. 
 
¶2. (U) Assistant Director of Passports and Airport Security, Colonel 
Ibrahim Ahmed Nasr, reported in an interview with a local 
Arabic-language newspaper August 27 that Qataris have changed their 
travel destinations this year to the Gulf and other Arab and Middle 
Eastern countries, avoiding destinations such as Europe and 
Southeast Asia, where they believe the disease is prevalent. 
 
¶3. (U) According to local media, pharmacies in Doha have witnessed 
increased demand for Tamiflu - the accepted treatment for H1N1- and 
the purchase of a large number of medical masks. 
 
¶4. (U) A local English-language newspaper reported August 31 that 
the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) and the Ministry of Endowments 
and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) will cooperate on health campaigns 
couched in Islamic religious principles to combat H1N1 influenza. 
The newspaper reported that one thousand posters have been 
distributed in three languages at various mosques and prayer rooms 
in the country, describing the symptoms of the disease and 
preventive steps people can take to reduce the likelihood of 
transmission.  Some Friday sermons are also reportedly promoting 
H1N1 awareness. 
 
¶5. (U) Dr. Youssri Abd Al Galeel Radwan, a member of the Emergency 
Preparedness Committee at the Ministry of Health, renewed his call 
for the return of Qatari students currently abroad, especially in 
Britain and the United States, before the start of next winter to 
avoid contracting the virus, according to a local Arabic-language 
newspaper. 
 
----------------------- 
START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR 
----------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) In an interview in an Arabic-language newspaper August 27 Dr. 
Abdel-Wahab Al Mosleh, Director of the Emergency Department at Hamad 
Medical City (HMC) and the Director of Hamad International Medical 
Training Center, said that there is no need to delay the start of 
the school year as there is no reason to think that the epidemic wll 
have abated within the next few months.  Instead, when cases are 
detected in a specific grade, all students in that class should be 
granted leave until the symptoms disappear, for a minimum of seven 
days, he noted. 
 
¶7. (U) A September 1 opinion poll conducted by a local newspaper 
showed that 90 percent of Qataris prefer to postpone the start of 
the school year, with only 10 percent supported upholding the 
current school schedule. 
 
¶8. (SBU) The spouse of the Embassy's ARSO, a teacher at a local 
nursery, reported September 7 that all children who want to start 
daycare or nursery school within seven days of entering the country 
must provide a doctor's note saying the child is not suspected of 
having H1N1.  This order apparently originated with the SCH. 
 
------------------------- 
SCHOOL VACCINATION CAMPAIGN 
------------------------- 
 
DOHA 00000556  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶8. (U) Dr. Al Mosleh also announced August 27 that a seasonal 
influenza vaccination campaign will be carried out next month.  This 
vaccination campaign, which will begin in the private schools, will 
include all students eighteen years old and younger. 
 
¶9. (U) A similar campaign of H1N1 flu vaccinations will begin once 
the vaccine is available, likely in late 2009 or early 2010, 
according to Mosleh. 
 
------------------ 
OTHER PREPARATIONS 
------------------ 
 
¶10. (U) According to a local Arabic-language newspaper, the Supreme 
Council for Health has been in communication with Qatar's foreign 
schools, whose academic year has already begun.  The SCH is 
conducting interviews with school administration and health 
personnel to better understand the status of the H1N1 outbreak and 
update their contacts database.  Public health teams have also been 
sent to schools to make sure that they have the most up-to-date 
plans. 
 
¶11. (U) The article further reports that workshops in Arabic and 
English for school health personnel and administrators will be 
announced soon by the SCH. 
 
¶12. (U) Dr. Mohammad Al Thani, Director of Public Health, stated in 
the English language press on September 3 that schools had been 
asked to keep thermometers to check students' body temperatures 
daily.  However, there was no plan to install thermal cameras at 
schools, like those operating at the airport, he said. 
 
 
NANTONGO