VZCZCXRO5460
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHTI #0793 3481520
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141520Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8662
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS TIRANA 000793 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SCE 
STATE FOR OES/IHB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SOCI KFLU AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA: First Deaths Due to H1N1 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary : Albania announced its firstH1N1 death of an 
otherwise "healthy" patient on December 13, bringing the total to 
four deaths in the past three weeks.  Incidence rates for 
respiratory illness overall have hit ten year highs but have fallen 
short of epidemic status and have stabilized recently.  The 
incidence rate of H1N1 in statistical samples of those exhibiting 
flu-like symptoms has grown from ten to fourteen percent.  The GOA 
has maintained an active surveillance and public information program 
and the first shipment of the H1N1 vaccines is expected to arrive 
December 18th.  End Summary. 
 
Fourth H1N1 Deaths in Three Weeks 
           --------------------------------- 
¶2. (U) Media reports that December 13th the first victim who did not 
have pre-existing serious health conditions died from complications 
from H1N1.  The day before, Ministry of Health officials confirmed 
two additional deaths attributable to H1N1, a 47 year old woman and 
a 53 year old man.  Both patients had extensive pre-existing health 
problems and were receiving specialized care for H1N1 prior to their 
death.  Several other patients are said to be in critical care who 
are positive for H1N1.   Two weeks prior, Albania registered its 
first death attributable to H1N1, a 57 year old male patient who was 
suffering from prostate cancer and heart disease.  While the 
majority of overall H1N1 cases have been in the Tirana area, the 
newest fatalities are from Vlora (southern Albania) and Shokdra 
(northern Albania).  Statistical sampling efforts to date have 
focused mainly on Tirana but the Ministry of Health is considering 
taking more samples from those experiencing flu-like symptoms 
outside of Tirana. 
Number of H1N1 Cases Growing Daily 
---------------------------------- 
¶3. (U) Since July 2009 there have been 310 confirmed cases of H1N1 
in Albania with the average age of infection being 23 years.  Almost 
all have exhibited only mild to moderate clinical symptoms. 
Patients are regularly being treated with Tamiflu and the majority 
of cases continue to be centered around Tirana.   While previous 
sampling of those admitted with flu-like symptoms showed an H1N1 
incidence rate of 10 percent, the most recent statistics show that 
the H1N1 incidence rate has jumped to 14 percent. 
Already a Record Flu Season but No Epidemic 
------------------------------------------- 
¶4. (U) Before November the incidence rate for all respiratory 
infections was similar to seasonal patterns, but during November 
there was a large upswing, just falling short of epidemic status. 
December has shown that trend stabilizing and decreasing.  Infection 
rates (detected) continue to be the highest of the past ten years. 
While a peak in respiratory infections is expected in winter the 
peak historically has come January or later.  Ministry of Health 
officials still expect another upswing after January. 
Emptying Schools and Filling Waiting Rooms 
          ------------------------------------------ 
¶5. (U) Local hospitals have been feeling the burden of the spike in 
flu cases with over 60 people being seen daily at Mother Teresa 
Hospital, the local hospital for pediatrics and internal medicine. 
Documented H1N1 cases are being transferred to Tirana for 
specialized care.  In schools, local media is reporting an 
absenteeism rate of 10-15 percent of children due to flu like 
symptoms and the government has issued guidance consistent with 
international guidelines about how to prevent the seasonal flu as 
well as H1N1.  Also, recently hung signage at the airport warns 
travelers of the symptoms of the flu.  The H1N1 vaccine is expected 
to arrive December 18th and while the GOA will focus on at-risk 
groups it will also reportedly be available for all that wish to pay 
to be vaccinated. 
¶6. (SBU) Comment: While the rising level of fatalities is disturbing 
and makes headlines, the overall trend for respiratory illness 
appears to be stabilizing.  However,  it will take a much larger 
decrease to return to seasonal norms.  More troubling is the 
increase in the H1N1 incidence rate, which appears to be becoming 
more prevalent among flu patients according to Ministry of Health 
sampling.  The GOA has been supplying information for several months 
on how to avoid  all forms of flu, has an active taskforce, and has 
been issuing frequent updates on H1N1.  However, public health 
resources are strained normally and a further spike, which often 
occurs in January, will certainly overtax hospital resources.  End 
Comment