Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09SANAA2002, SITREP: H1N1 PANDEMIC HAS THE POTENTIAL TO

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09SANAA2002.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09SANAA2002 2009-11-03 12:07 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Sanaa
VZCZCXRO7264
PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHYN #2002 3071207
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031207Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANAA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3124
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
UNCLAS SANAA 002002 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/ARP FOR ANDREW MACDONALD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL
PINR, AMGT, TF, YM 
SUBJECT: SITREP: H1N1 PANDEMIC HAS THE POTENTIAL TO 
OVERWHELM YEMEN'S HEALTH RESOURCES 
 
REF: A. SANAA 1850 
     B. SANAA 1134 
     C. SANAA 875 
 
1.  (U) Summary.  Yemen has 415 confirmed cases of H1N1 
influenza, and health officials suspect an additional 800 
cases.  The ROYG has a 50,000 supply of PPE (Personal 
Protective Equipment) to prevent the spread of the virus and 
100,000 doses of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) to treat H1N1 
patients, but has no vaccine to inoculate people before being 
infected.  One public hospital continues to treat H1N1 
patients, while private hospitals are refusing to admit 
suspected cases, as concern for the virus spreads.  As the 
number of H1N1 cases increases, the ROYG's inability to 
convince hospitals to treat H1N1 patients is concerning.  As 
the numbers of H1N1 cases rise, the pandemic threatens to 
overwhelm health resources within Yemen.  End Summary. 
 
415 CASES CONFIRMED 
------------------- 
 
2.  (U) As of October 20, the Ministry of Public Health and 
Population had 415 confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza and 
reported 15 deaths from "swine flu."  According to Dr. 
Abdulhakim Al-Kohlani, Director General of Disease and 
Epidemiological Surveillance, the ROYG currently has only one 
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) machine to test samples; as a 
result, the ROYG is able to test only 30 samples a day. 
Thus, health officials are not testing contacts, only 
treating them if they have symptoms.  Kohlani told EconOff on 
October 21 that he predicts there are at least 800 more cases 
in Yemen, raising the number of H1N1 influenza infections to 
well over 1000.  (Note: The Ministry of Health has requested 
USG assistance to procure additional PCR machines.  End 
Note.) 
 
ROYG RESPONSE 
------------- 
 
3.  (U) The Ministry of Health's original USD 60,000 budget 
for surveillance has been supplemented with USD 300,000, 
specifically for H1N1 influenza surveillance and detection. 
The ROYG has approximately a 50,000 supply of PPE (Personal 
Protective Equipment) and 100,000 doses of Oseltamivir 
(Tamiflu), some of which were donated from Bahrain.   The 
ROYG does not have H1N1 vaccine and will be unable to meet 
the Saudi requirement to vaccinate those going on the Hajj in 
mid-November.  The ROYG is waiting for a supply of WHO 
vaccine to come in by late November or early December, and is 
expecting 2.2 million doses of vaccine at that time.  (Note: 
This will be too late to vaccinate people going on the Hajj. 
End Note.) 
 
4. (U) The ROYG continues to close classrooms and schools 
when H1N1 cases are detected.  Kohlani told EconOff on 
October 21 that, so far, the ROYG had closed one school in 
Hajja governorate.  On October 27, Saba News reported that 
three schools were closed in Sana'a after several students 
tested positive for H1N1 influenza.  Another October 27 Saba 
News report indicated that only one hospital, the Al-Thawra 
Public Hospital in Sana'a, is receiving H1N1 patients; the 
other hospitals are refusing to receive suspected H1N1 cases. 
 Kohlani admitted that despite Ministry of Health directives, 
it is difficult to convince private hospitals to access 
potential H1N1 patients due to the fear that health workers 
will become infected themselves. 
 
5.  (U) Comment: The official number of H1N1 cases in Yemen 
(415) is most likely understated, since the Ministry of 
Public Health and Population has the ability to test only 30 
samples a day.  Estimates that reach into the 1000s are 
presumed accurate.  As the number of H1N1 cases increases, 
the ROYG's inability to convince hospitals to treat H1N1 
patients is concerning.  As the numbers of H1N1 cases rise, 
the pandemic threatens to overwhelm already insufficient 
health resources within Yemen.  End Comment. 
SECHE