VZCZCXRO4571
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHSL #0475 3141456
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 101456Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0255
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA 0296

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000475 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/CE J. MOORE 
STATE FOR OES/IHB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SOCI KFLU WHO CASC LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA H1N1 UPDATE: 29 NEW CASES IN PAST WEEK, 1 DEATH 
 
REF: BRATISLAVA 471 
 
¶1. (U) The Slovak Health Ministry released its latest figures on 
November 9, showing 29 new cases of H1N1 flu diagnosed in the 
previous week, bringing the total number of cases in Slovakia to 
200 since the spring. A 48 year-old woman became the first 
person with a confirmed H1N1 infection to die in Slovakia, 
although the Health Ministry was quick to add that her death was 
caused by heart failure.  Most of the new cases were 
concentrated in Bratislava, on the opposite side of the country 
from the border with Ukraine, which is currently experiencing a 
serious outbreak.  The Slovak government has now closed all but 
one of its road border crossings with Ukraine, although both 
rail crossings remain open.  Medical personnel have been 
stationed at each of the border checkpoints to examine those 
seeking to enter the country, and they have been authorized to 
deny admission to anyone with flu symptoms. 
 
¶2. (SBU) As reported reftel, the Slovak government has been 
playing down the danger posed by the potential of a wider H1N1 
outbreak.  Health Minister Richard Rasi has repeatedly asserted 
that the government is well-prepared for any eventuality, 
stressing the availability of face masks and hospital beds.  It 
is notable, however, that Rasi has given the media only 
vague--and possibly misleading--information about the 
availability of H1N1 vaccines.  He has told reporters only that 
the flu vaccines will be purchased and delivered to Slovakia 
"soon," adding that there is plenty of time to inoculate the 
population before the H1N1 outbreak will peak in late January. 
WHO Country Director Darina Sedlakova (protect) told us last 
Friday that the contract will be signed at the end of November 
and vaccines likely will not be delivered until late January. 
She added that she expects the H1N1 outbreak to peak well before 
that time, which is typically the peak of seasonal flu.  One 
newspaper reported on the basis of Rasi's remarks that the 
vaccine will be delivered by early December; we have not yet 
seen any effort by the Health Ministry to correct this report. 
In the meantime, some Slovaks are reportedly traveling across 
the border to Hungary to purchase H1N1 vaccines. 
 
¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Although Rasi's evasive answers to questions 
about vaccine availability are troubling, we have no reason to 
believe that the Health Ministry is otherwise releasing 
inaccurate information.  Sedlakova told us that she has 
confidence in the government's flu statistics, which still show 
a fairly low rate of infection. 
 
EDDINS