Cablegate: Luxembourg: First Death From Swine Flu (H1n1)

VZCZCXRO9236
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK
RUEHYG
DE RUEHLE #0266 2611505
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181505Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG
TO RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6745
INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS LUXEMBOURG 000266

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AADP AMED AMGT TBIO KFLU LU
SUBJECT: LUXEMBOURG: FIRST DEATH FROM SWINE FLU (H1N1)
REPORTED

REF: LUXEMBOURG 00248

1. (U) The first recorded death as a result of the H1N1
virus (Swine Flu) in Luxembourg occurred September 17. The
patient was a 55 year old male who had been hospitalized for
a serious but unrelated illness. It has not yet been
determined where or when he contracted the virus. Prior to
this death all known cases had been successfully treated,
some without any specific antiviral intervention. Since
Luxembourg's first reported case in June, the total number of
confirmed H1N1 cases has risen to 168 as of September 11, the
latest date for which statistics are available.

2. (SBU) Local health authorities have been expecting an
increase in the total number of cases with the end of the
holiday travel season. Many Luxembourgers have just returned
from Spain and the UK where most previous cases were believed
to have originated. The school year began this week as
scheduled with a Government of Luxembourg (GOL) media
campaign to educate the public concerning prevention and the
H1N1 threat. The GOL campaign distributed information
through the internet, broadcast and print media, including
distribution of printed material to pharmacies, schools,
businesses and on modes of public transportation. The
government has ordered 700,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine and
expects delivery during "autumn."

3. (U) If additional information is required, post point of
contact is Pol/Econ Counselor Michael Via, e-mail
ViaMA@state.gov.
BIEDLINGMAIER

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