Cablegate: Nigeria Records Its First Death From H1n1

VZCZCXRO4031
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0150 0331200
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021158Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0145
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0121

UNCLAS ABUJA 000150

SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, OES/IHB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU SENV EAGR EAID ECON WHO NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA RECORDS ITS FIRST DEATH FROM H1N1

REF: 09 LAGOS 435; 09 ABUJA 747

1. (U) The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) reported the
first laboratory-confirmed death from H1N1 in Nigeria, in a press
release issued on January 18. Nigeria's first reported victim of
H1N1 was a 38-year-old Lagosian female who died at the Reddington
Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos State on January 5. The victim
had traveled to the U.S. (California) about three months previously
and became sick six weeks prior to her death, according to
information released by the GON. The press release also reported
11 laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 and one probable additional
death from H1N1 whose victim died before samples could be
collected.

2. (U) The FMOH, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of
Health, had collected and analyzed samples from the case and 40
close contacts of the deceased. The investigation revealed that
eight of the close contacts of the deceased were found to be H1N1
positive. Upon the confirmation of H1N1, the following measures
have been introduced to strengthen surveillance and enhance public
awareness:

-- aliquots from the eight close contacts were sent to the
USG-supported National Influenza Reference Laboratory (NIRL)
located in Abuja, Nigeria. A re-test of the samples showed that
four were positive for H1N1 and one was positive for Swine Flu A.
The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
is also supporting the FMOH in conducting enhanced surveillance in
Lagos;

-- an emergency meeting of epidemiologists from the 36 states and
the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and World Health Organization
(WHO) Surveillance Officers was called to discuss pandemic
influenza threats and strategies to contain any outbreaks;

-- enhanced disease surveillance has been activated in all the
states and the FCT, including active case searches in some
designated health facilities;

-- enhanced media outreach, alerting the public about the dangers
of the pandemic and basic prevention measures, has been launched;

-- all documentation for the donation of H1N1 vaccines to the
country, including a vaccine deployment plan, have been completed
and forwarded to the WHO for further action; and

-- the FMOH is putting together all of the required processes for
the deployment of the vaccines once the donations arrive.

3. (U) CDC and WHO are assisting with enhanced surveillance and
laboratory testing and retesting of suspected cases.

4 (U) Embassy Abuja coordinated this cable with ConGen Lagos.
SANDERS

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