VZCZCXRO6344
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHPG #0642/01 3030910
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 300910Z OCT 09 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1872
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000642 
 
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED ADDITIONAL TAGS) 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU KSTH PREL SENV CDC HHS EZ WHO NIH
SUBJECT: H1N1 PREPAREDNESS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC 
 
PRAGUE 00000642  001.4 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Although cases of H1N1 in the Czech Republic 
(CR) have generally been few and mild, the Czech government 
is taking a number of steps to prepare for a potential 
pandemic.  Steps include anti-viral stockpiles, vaccine 
purchases, a PR campaign about preventing infection, and 
updating the national pandemic plan. 
 
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Situation on the Ground 
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¶2. (U) To date, the Czech Health Ministry has confirmed 351 
cases of H1N1 in the CR and thousands have been tested for 
the virus.  Infected persons have all either recently 
returned from countries with high H1N1 infection rates 
(including but not limited to the U.S., United Kingdom, 
Spain, and Greece) or have come in direct contact with 
persons recently returned from these places.  There has been 
one death attributed to H1N1 in the CR.  The victim, however, 
suffered from a chronic heart condition and had had a recent 
kidney transplant, and doctors considered her health to be 
precarious prior to infection.  One other patient who suffers 
from a chronic pulmonary disorder has been infected and is in 
critical condition.  All other patients have experienced only 
mild symptoms.  Most infected persons are assigned home 
quarantine and are not prescribed anti-virals.  Only one 
additional patient, an American citizen, was hospitalized but 
reportedly did not receive anti-virals.  (Comment: although 
the hospital could not release details about his condition, 
Post believes that the patient was hospitalized as a means of 
quarantine, not because his symptoms were more serious than 
those of previous patients.  End Comment) 
 
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Anti-Virals and Vaccines 
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¶3. (U) Through a series of purchases over the last four 
months, the Czech Republic has stockpiled enough Tamiflu to 
treat 2.5 million people and enough Relenza to treat 500,000 
people (together covering 30 percent of the CR's population). 
 On August 21, the Czech government signed a 220 million CZK 
($12.3 million) deal with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to purchase 
one million doses of its (at the time) not-yet-EU registered 
H1N1 vaccine.  Though previously believed to be enough doses 
to vaccinate only half a million people, research now 
indicates that the Czech supply could treat 1 million people 
since 1 dose per person may be sufficient.  Czech Health 
Minister Jurasova,s original plans included contracts to 
purchase 5 million doses of vaccines from GSK or Novartis, 
once either had competed testing for side effects and gained 
EU approval.  GSK, however, leveraged the short supply of 
vaccines and looming threat of a fall pandemic to reach an 
earlier agreement.  The U.S. company Baxter, which has a 
production facility in the Czech Republic, had reportedly 
promised all of its vaccine to other customers.  Last month, 
Baxter, GSK, and Novartis all received EU approval for their 
vaccines. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Czech government plans to begin administering 
the vaccine next month to emergency workers, doctors, persons 
who hold vital roles in the functioning of the CR's 
infrastructure, and persons with chronic conditions resulting 
in impaired immune systems.  According to media reports, many 
doctors are threatening to refuse the H1N1 flu vaccine 
because vaccine manufacturers have not agreed to accept 
liability for possible side effects.  Health Ministry 
Epidemiology Department Officer Sylvia Kvasova told us GSK is 
scheduled to deliver vaccines in November, though the 
contract between GSK and the GoCR does not include penalties 
for late delivery. 
 
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More Mixed Signals 
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¶5. (U) Starting in September, the Czech government launched a 
campaign to encourage people to get ordinary flu vaccines, 
fearing that while each may be manageable, the combined 
effects of seasonal flu and H1N1 flu could be severe or even 
deadly.  However, several prominent doctors have publicly 
endorsed a Canadian study showing that a seasonal flu vaccine 
could make someone more susceptible to H1N1 flu and more 
likely to have more severe symptoms.  To date, less than 8 
percent of Czechs have received seasonal flu vaccines, 
according to Health Ministry Legislative Section Head Jan 
Klusacek. 
 
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Emergency Preparedness 
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¶6. (SBU) The Czech Republic has a 26-plan emergency 
 
PRAGUE 00000642  002.4 OF 002 
 
 
preparedness framework, including a national pandemic plan 
(NPP).  In preparation for a possible H1N1 flu pandemic, the 
government has reviewed and updated this plan (which was last 
updated in response to the avian influenza threat, according 
to Interior Ministry Security Threats and Crisis Management 
Unit Officer Oldrich Krulik).  Although all ministries are 
involved in the NPP, the Health Ministry would be responsible 
for overall coordination and oversight.  The NPP includes 
provisions for transformation of college dormitories into 
health care facilities, deployment of medical students to 
assist in patient treatment, and institution of a special 
regime at the Czech Republic's borders. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Conclusion: Despite a steady climb through July, 
August and September and predictions of an exponential 
infection increase, infection rates have slowed considerably 
since mid-September. While experts and policy-makers expect a 
second wave of infections this winter, they are hesitant to 
cause public panic over an infection that has thus far been 
limited in scope and has caused generally mild symptoms. 
Potential shortcomings in Czech national preparedness include 
vaccine shortage in the event of widespread outbreak and 
shortage of respirators, should respiratory symptoms grow 
more severe in future outbreaks.  Still, the Czech government 
is taking the theat seriously and preparing accordingly. 
Thompson-Jones