Cablegate: Portugal H1n1 Update - Oct 7

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RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHLI #0528 2810736
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080736Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7901
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHPD/AMCONSUL PONTA DELGADA 0626
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC

UNCLAS LISBON 000528

SIPDIS

HHS FOR CDC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC AMED KFLU ETRD EAGR ECON EC PGOV PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL H1N1 UPDATE - OCT 7

REF: LISBON 509

1. Between September 21 and September 27 Portugal diagnosed 1,530
new cases with flu symptoms. The majority of the cases (83 percent)
were in continental Portugal, 16 percent in the Azores, and 1
percent in Madeira. Twenty-one patients, including six in intensive
care, remain hospitalized. To date, there have been two confirmed
H1N1 fatalities.

2. The first fatality was a 41-year-old Portuguese male who had
emigrated to France and had returned briefly to Portugal on
vacation. He died from pneumonia and severe abdominal infection
after complications from a 14-year-old kidney transplant. The
second fatality was a 49-year-old male, a conservative Popular Party
(CDS/PP) mayoral candidate, who died of pneumonia and multiple-organ
failure.

3. As of September 22, three telecommunications networks, in
partnership with Portuguese health officials, have been sending text
messages advising people with flu symptoms to stay home, call the
hotline, contact their physicians, reinforce hygiene measures, and
avoid infecting others.

4. The school year began September 14 registering over 500
H1N1-infected students in 100 private and public primary and
secondary schools, with the northern region of Portugal registering
328 cases. All of the schools have remained open.

5. The Health Ministry announced on October 2 that it will implement
its H1N1 vaccination plan starting October 26. Health
professionals, essential non-health professionals, and women in
their second or third trimester of pregnancy with pre-existing
health conditions will be vaccinated.

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