VZCZCXRO7771
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHSI #2241 3501358
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161358Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2611
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS TBILISI 002241 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO EAID AMED SOCI GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA:  FIRST H1N1 DEATHS REPORTED; PUBLIC 
CONCERNED 
 
¶1.  (U)  Summary.  Georgia reported its first confirmed 
deaths due to H1N1 the week of December 14.  As of December 
16, there are five confirmed deaths.  The reported number of 
confirmed and unconfirmed H1N1 cases vary widely among the 
different sources.  The reported confirmed cases range from 
530 to 635, while the unconfirmed cases range from 1,500 to 
1,750; the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) 
estimates a rate of unconfirmed cases as 435 per 100,000 
people.  There is a growing concern among the population 
which is being fueled by the constant media reports about 
H1N1; however, thus far there is no sense of panic with 
schools open and no lines at local pharmacies.  Nonetheless, 
some parents are keeping their children home from school and 
some Georgians have started wearing medical face masks as a 
preventative measure.  Opposition politicians are making 
public statements about the "outbreak" and are calling on the 
government to declare a state of emergency, close schools and 
start issuing free medical care to those with H1N1.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Comment.  Concern has risen with the first deaths 
reported in Georgia from H1N1, but there is no sense of 
panic.  Health Unit visits to local hospitals and clinics 
have seen an increase in the number of patients.  The Embassy 
community has seen a rising number of patients sick with 
flu-like symptoms, ranging from mild to moderate, but so far, 
none have tested positively for H1N1.  The Embassy community 
has remained calm, but is keeping an eye on local conditions. 
 We continue to review our pandemic tripwires and update them 
as necessary.  End Comment. 
 
¶3. (U)  As of Wednesday, December 16, there have been five 
confirmed deaths from H1N1 in Georgia.  Georgia's NCDC has 
confirmed the five deaths and reports that there are now 635 
confirmed cases in country.  The five deaths reported were in 
the following cities: one in Kutaisi, two in Batumi and two 
in Tbilisi.  The NCDC estimated the unconfirmed rate is 435 
cases per 100,000 people.  This rate is calculated at the end 
of every week with the last calculation undertaken  December 
¶11.  According to USAID's Office of Health and Social 
Development, as of December 15, 530 cases have been confirmed 
with around 1,500 unconfirmed cases of flu-like symptoms. The 
Georgian Ministry of Health reported that there are 1,750 
unconfirmed cases; the Georgian press is reporting over 530 
cases of H1N1 with the unconfirmed cases to be over 1,700. 
 
¶4. (U)  The deaths have raised the level of concern among the 
general population, although there are no signs of panic. 
Some parents are choosing to keep their children t home 
rather than sending them to school. This has caused some 
schools to close due to the lack of students, but there has 
been no Government decision to close schools.  Opposition 
politicians are calling on the government to issue a state of 
emergency, are demanding that all schools be closed and 
proposing free medical treatment for all with flu-like 
symptoms.  The Georgian media has reported that the high cost 
of Tamiflu, 50 lari (about 30 dollars), may be keeping people 
from purchasing the medicine; there are also rumors 
circulating that there might be a shortage of the medicine 
and of medical face masks, increasing the anxiety of local 
residents.  The Ministry of Health is urging citizens with 
flu-like symptoms to wash their hands often, isolate those 
that are sick, wear masks while in public and seek medical 
help sooner rather than later.  The Ministry of Health has 
not called for school closings, have not issued a state of 
Qnot called for school closings, have not issued a state of 
emergency because the numbers are still rather low and claim 
to be well stocked with Tamiflu and that hospitals are ready. 
 
¶5. (U)  Press reports from Abkhazia have further added to 
Georgian public concerns.  According to the press, in 
Sukhumi, de facto authorities have declared a state of 
emergency in Abkhazia and have closed all schools due to 
H1N1.  They report that over 200 people have been 
hospitalized, but the hospitals lack the necessary equipment 
to treat the patients properly and there are no reliable 
estimates available of the number infected. Russia has 
promised to provide assistance and Georgia has also offered 
medical help. 
 
¶6. (SBU)  Among the American Embassy community, around 50 
Americans and about 20 Foreign Service Nationals have 
reported to the Health Unit with mild to moderate flu-like 
symptoms or upper respiratory symptoms, but none have tested 
as or been confirmed as H1N1.  Although some in the Embassy 
community have expressed concern, the atmosphere remains calm. 
BASS