VZCZCXRO9761
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHBS #0155/01 0401414
ZNR UUUUU ZZ
R 091414Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9994
RUEAUSA/HHS WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000155 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC AMED CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, BE 
SUBJECT:  BELGIUM:  H1N1 CASES KEEP FALLING IN 2010 
 
REF: 2009 BRUSSELS 1576 
 
BRUSSELS 00000155  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  On January 28, 2010, the Government of Belgium's 
Interministerial Influenza Commission (IIC) announced an estimated 
1,614 new cases of the H1N1 virus in Belgium for the week of January 
12 to January 17 (week 3).  This figure is marginally higher from an 
estimated 1,302 cases the previous week.  Four additional 
H1N1-related deaths were reported between November x and December 
31; in all, seventeen Belgians have died from H1N1-related causes 
since the outbreak began in spring 2009.  The total estimated number 
of positive cases in Belgium since April 2009 is now 211,009. 
Health authorities caution that the virus could still return, as 
they believe a large portion of the population has not yet been 
exposed to the virus.  The GOB is still encouraging individuals in 
at-risk groups to take advantage of the slowdown to get vaccinated; 
so far the government believes over approximately 1.5 to 2 million 
people have been vaccinated.  Belgium has also renegotiated a 
reduction from its original H1N1 vaccine order from Glaxo Smith 
Kline (GSK), as well as donated ten percent of its remaining 
vaccines to the World Health Organization (WHO).  End summary. 
 
 
NUMBER OF NEW CASES REMAINS LOW IN JANUARY 2010 
             --------------- 
 
¶2. Since the H1N1 virus in Belgium reached its peak of positive 
cases the week of October 19-25, 2009 with 46,848 estimated cases, 
the number of cases has steadily decreased.   During the first week 
of 2010, only 453 estimated cases were reported-the lowest number 
since the week of August 31 to September 6.  Health authorities 
indicate the circulation of the virus has weakened, but still are 
encouraging at-risk groups to take advantage of the slowdown to get 
vaccinated. 
 
NO DEATHS IN 2010; FOUR IN LAST WEEKS OF 2009, TOTAL OF 17 
                 --------------------------- 
 
¶3.  There have been no H1N1-related deaths to date in 2010. 
However, between Nov 23 and Dec 27, the IIC attributed four 
additional deaths to the virus, bringing the total since the onset 
of the epidemic to seventeen.  According to the Scientific Institute 
of Public Health, the H1N1 virus has not had an impact on the 
country's mortality rate. 
 
VACCINATION CAMPAIGN FOR MEDICAL RISK GROUPS STILL IN COURSE 
      ------------- 
 
¶4. The IIC reports that the vaccination of people from the medical 
risk groups is still underway.  During January 2010, more than two 
million doses of vaccine have been delivered to general 
practitioners and healthcare institutions by the pharmacies.  The 
IIC estimates that approximately 1.5 to 2 million persons have been 
vaccinated. 
 
BELGIUM TO DONATE 10 PERCENT OF VACCINE STOCK TO DEVELOPING NATIONS 
  ----------------- 
 
¶5.  Due to the surplus of the H1N1 vaccine in Belgium, the Belgian 
government has announced on January 8, 2010 to donate ten percent of 
its remaining vaccines to the World Health Organization (WHO).  WHO 
will then distribute the donated vaccines to developing countries. 
 
NEGOTIATION WITH GLASKO SMITH KLINE TO REDUCE ORDER 
                   ------------ 
 
¶6.  Originally having ordered 12.6 million doses of the vaccine from 
Glasko Smith Kline (GSK), the Government negotiated with GSK in 
early January to reduce its original order by one-third, to 
approximately 8 million units.  The Ministry of Health confirms that 
as of January 8, GSK has delivered 4.3 units of the vaccine.  The 
reduction will save Belgium approximately 33 million dollars. 
 
EMBASSY H1N1 WORKING GROUP 
      -------------- 
 
¶7.  The Embassy H1N1 Working Group (comprised of representatives 
from the Front Office, Health Unit, Management, CLO, RSO, PD and 
POLECON sections) reviewed Embassy preparedness in light of 
Belgium's H1N1 situation most recently on January 15.  Its next 
scheduled meeting will be for February 26, unless the situation 
warrants an earlier meeting. 
 
 
¶8. BELGIAN H1N1 CASES (ESTIMATED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED*) 
      --------------- 
WEEK DATE   NUMBER CASES CUMULATIVE 
       NUMBER CASES 
 
BRUSSELS 00000155  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
          ------------------------------ 
 
 
03 JAN 11-17    1,614  211,009 
02   JAN 4-10    1,302  209,395 
01 DEC 28-JAN 3     453  208,093 
52   DEC 21-27    1,865  207,640 
51 DEC 14-20    2,091  205,775 
50 DEC 7-13    4,482  203,684 
49   NOV 30-DEC 6   5,403  199,202 
48 NOV 23-29    8,192  193,799 
47 NOV 16-22   11,882  186,855 
46 NOV 9-15   17,850  174,973 
45 NOV 2-8   33,584  155,908 
44 OCT 26-NOV 1  50,415  127,379 
43 OCT 19-25   41,193   77,609 
42 OCT 12-18   16,377   36,416 
41 OCT 5-11    7,584   20,039 
40 SEP 28-OCT 4   3,997   12,455 
39 SEP 21-27    1,763    8,458 
39 SEP 21-27    1,763   8,458 
38 SEP 14-20       905   6,695 
37 SEP 7-13        456   5,790 
36 AUG 31-SEP 6       402   5,334 
 
(Source: Scientific Institute Public Health) 
 
*total of individuals testing positive during that period 
 
(Note:  Belgium ceased individual testing for H1N1 in mid-July 2009, 
and since then has used extrapolations from a system relying on data 
based on cases of patients who visit the approximately 180 doctors 
who make up the so-called national H1N1 network.) 
 
GUTMAN