Cablegate: Bangladesh H1n1 Infections Declining

VZCZCXRO3003
PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKA #0983 2912346
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 182346Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9563
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA USA PRIORITY
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0691
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS DHAKA 000983

STATE FOR M/PRI FOR RMORRITZ
STATE FOR SCA/INSB, SCA/PPD
STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS FOR EPARRA
STATE FOR OES/AIAG FOR AMBASSADOR LOFTIS, HELEN REED ROWE, AND
CRAIG SHAPIRO
STATE FOR OES/IHB, AAIT, MED
HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER AND HICKEY
CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID AND COGH
USDA FOR APHIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO PINR EAGR AMED CASC PGOV BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH H1N1 INFECTIONS DECLINING

REF A: DHAKA 844 B: DHAKA 621 C: STATE 99088 D: STATE 104542

1. (SBU) Overall circulation of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 activity is
decreasing throughout Bangladesh although some cases continue to be
identified. During June-October 15, 2009 surveillance programs
identified a total of 6 fatalities out of 705 laboratory confirmed
pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases. The Ministry of Health (MOH) estimates
that 1.7 million rural Bangladeshis and 107,000 Dhaka residents have
displayed flu-like symptoms in this period with an overall fatality
rate of 0.9 percent. CDC suspects the death rate is higher than the
H1N1 death rate in the U.S. because Bangladeshi patients receive
treatment later, an average of 7 days after the onset of illness
(compared to a 3 day average in the U.S.). Press coverage about
H1N1 also declined from a peak following school closures and the
first confirmed fatalities in late August. CDC continues to monitor
surveillance programs for evidence of a second wave of H1N1
infections during the flu season which is expected to come by April
2010.

2. (SBU) Mission's Pandemic Influenza Working Group met on
September 30 to review ref C guidance and mission preparedness. Post
health unit confirms that Tamiflu and other medical supplies are
adequate. Management and consular reviewed ref D guidance, which is
consistent with existing internal and warden messages on H1N1.

DEAN

© Scoop Media