World Vision Mongolia has declared a Category I, Level 1 emergency after the country experienced a sudden onset and rapid increase in the number of H1N1 influenza cases. 

Currently, the number of people infected with the virus has reached 978, according to the Health Ministry. While 742 of the patients are in Ulaanbaatar City, the remaining 235 cases are in rural areas. Some 16 deaths have been registered nation-wide.

On October 13, the government developed a protocol on the H1N1 virus outbreak in Mongolia based on three confirmed H1N1 cases and immediately established a State Rapid Response Team.

The state emergency office has declared that all general educational schools be closed down for an indefinite period of time. Family clinics are now working on overtime shifts until 10 pm and all local public transportation - including air, train, and road traffic had been temporarily shut down.

World Vision has organised a crisis management team, which has developed a 90-day activity plan aimed at reducing the vulnerability and minimising the impact to World Vision operations in nine Area Development Programmes (ADPs) located in Ulaanbaatar city.

World Vision Mongolia will launch a three-month response, targeting 9,800 beneficiaries. While some of the funding will come from programme budgets, the emergency response requires an additional US$ 143, 373 in funding.

The current activities planned are: to raise awareness by providing information, education, and communications materials, provide food assistance to 1,780 families at risk of infection and provide a two month supply of nutrition sprinkles to 1,830 vulnerable children between 6-23 months in Ulaanbaatar city. World Vision Mongolia will also improve shelters, distribute warm jackets and support local health clinics.

Although 80 percent of the flu outbreak is densely concentrated in Ulaanbaatar city, World Vision’s operations will continue normally within the restrictions imposed by the Government and according to the operating protocols developed by the World Vision Crisis Management Team.

As of today, the 5th week since the breakout, the flu disease is expected to spread faster and more broadly than before.  Therefore, the state emergency office effectively put legislation into order to limit the working hours of all public places that attract large crowds of people such as markets, restaurants and other facilities such as training facilities. 

Sukhbaatar Province registered its first flu case, becoming the 18th province with flu cases, leaving only three provinces without record of the virus:  Bayan-Olgii, Dundgobi and Gobi-Altai provinces. The provinces with the highest concentration of the influenza are: Arkhangai, Gobisumber, Darkhan-Uul, Dornod, Orkhon, Selenge and Khovd.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the intensity of acute respiratory infections in the population of Mongolia is classified as very high. There are several factors such as limited capacity and resources within the health care systems, a high rate of poverty and increased vulnerability to disease, which further increase risk.

The government is focusing on capacity building health establishments and conducting prevention awareness activities. Related international and national non-governmental organisations are assisting the government in its response and mitigation measures.

Singapore supports the Uvurkhangai Area Development Programme, which is unaffected by H1N1.