VZCZCXRO5023
OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHLM #1092/01 3360731
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 020731Z DEC 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0866
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 9140
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 7386
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3538
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 9701
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 2603
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 0470
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 0103
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 6992
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 0386
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1326
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001092 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INSB 
STATE FOR OES/IHB 
STATE FOR AID/GH/HIDN 
USDA PASS TO APHIS 
HHS PASS TO CDC 
HHS FOR OGHA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PGOV TBIO KFLU SOCI CASC MV
SUBJECT: PANDEMIC FLU PREPARATIONS IN THE MALDIVES - 
ASSISTANCE NEEDED 
 
REF: STATE 111924 
 
COLOMBO 00001092  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request.  Please see paragraph 5. 
 
¶2. (U) SUMMARY: To date, there have been only 32 confirmed 
cases of H1N1 (Swine flu) in the Maldives with one reported 
death.  Maldivians are increasingly concerned with the 
country's ability to cope with a full-blown outbreak.  The 
Maldives has a preparedness plan, although it is described 
by some as 'inadequate.'  The airport and sea port are 
monitored for incoming passengers of concern.  The 
country's few hospitals and health care facilities have 
taken some measures to prepare for a possible outbreak. 
The country is working with the World Health Organization 
(WHO) and has a small stock of Tamiflu, but additional flu 
vaccine and medicine are urgently needed.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (U) The Government of the Maldives (GOM) tracks, 
monitors, and shares information about the H1N1 situation 
in the country (see www.health.gov.mv).  While there have 
been only 32 confirmed cases of H1N1 in the country, and 
only one reported death, the GOM has devel Ports, Customs, Immigration and 
the private sector were involved in developing the plan. 
While comprehensive, the country has only drafted standard 
operating procedures (SOPs) for the Male' atoll (where 
roughly one-third of the country's residents live) and was 
therefore described by some interlocutors as 'inadequate.' 
Still, the port authorities do thermally screen incoming 
passengers and health authorities are prepared to sequester 
possible arrivals at a small hotel near the airport in 
Male' where doctors and other professionals can tend to 
patients' needs.  The Maldives has less than 2000 adult 
doses and 350 child doses of Tamiflu on hand -- adequate at 
this early stage, but insufficient should an outbreak occur. 
 
¶4. (U) The WHO is present in the Maldives and assists the 
government on a range of health issues, including pandemic 
flu.  Together, an outreach program is in place and health 
care providers, NGOs, and community-based organizations are 
actively involved in community outreach and raising 
awareness throughout the country's roughly 200 inhabited 
islands (out of 1190 total islands).  The media is also 
closely following and reporting on the international 
coverage of flu outbreaks globally, and concern among the 
population is growing.  In the past months, the Maldives 
has strengthened risk communication, surveillance, 
laboratory facilities, stockpiling of medicines and other 
supplies, and enhancing intensive care facilities.  Public 
awareness campaigns are utilizing all available media 
outlets, although GOM officials readily admit that more 
needs to be done.  WHO and UNICEF are working together to 
find additional funding to enhance these efforts. 
 
¶5. (U) ACTION REQUEST: The GOM has identified 115,000 'at 
risk' individuals in the country -- including pregnant 
women, children, health care providers, the elderly, and 
people with chronic diseases -- who are in need of the flu 
vaccine.  The GOM sent Post Diplomatic Note EA-US/B/2009/91, 
received December 2, requesting nearly 150,000 vaccine doses. 
 
Further conversations with the WHO representative in the 
country demonstrate an urgent need for at least 50,000 
adult and 10,000 pediatric vaccine doses, as well as 
additional Tamiflu stock for children who get ill.  As per 
reftel, Post requests Department assistance in responding 
positively to the Maldives request for assistance.  Post 
 
COLOMBO 00001092  002 OF 002 
 
 
has forwarded a copy of the Diplomatic Note to SCA/INSB. 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: In the past year, the Maldives has become 
a pro-American, moderate-Muslim democracy, and its citizens 
are looking to their new government to deliver results. 
Unfortunately, until now, the GOM has not been successful 
in procuring the needed vaccine.  While the islands may 
slow the spread of H1N1, it also hinders the government's 
ability to respond to a critical outbreak.  Providing 
needed vaccines is the best method to limit mortality and 
increase the people's faith in their fledgling democratic 
government.  END COMMENT. 
FOWLER