Cablegate: Portugal H1n1 Update - Dec 17

VZCZCXRO9210
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHLI #0625 3511244
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171244Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8015
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHPD/AMCONSUL PONTA DELGADA 0647
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC

UNCLAS LISBON 000625

SIPDIS

HHS FOR CDC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC AMED KFLU ETRD EAGR ECON EC PGOV PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL H1N1 UPDATE - DEC 17

REF: LISBON 579
LISBON 558
LISBON 528

1. Between December 7 and December 13 Portugal diagnosed 14,518 new
cases with flu symptoms. One-hundred and thirty-three patients
remain hospitalized, including twenty-five in intensive care. There
have been forty-six confirmed H1N1 fatalities to date. The majority
of the fatalities were males averaging 45.5 years old with other
serious preexisting medical conditions.

2. One month into the vaccination campaign Portuguese health
authorities confirmed that 115,000 Portuguese have been vaccinated
(out of a population of 11 million), including only 32 percent of
doctors, 18 percent of nurses and 12 percent of other health
professionals. Dr. Filipe Froes, a respected pulmonologist, told us
that the Portuguese government goal to vaccinate 30 percent of the
population will not be achieved due to public reluctance to be
immunized.

3. The Portugal National Authority of Medicines and Health Products
has received 90 notifications of adverse reactions to the H1N1
vaccine, of which 36 were considered serious. The most commonly
reported reactions were muscle and joint pain and fever, in adults
31-40 years old.

4. Deputy Health Director Graga Freitas confirmed that Portugal has
administered 240,000 doses of vaccine and is distributing another
71,000 doses.

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