Cablegate: Suspected Ai Outbreak in Poultry in Eastern Shan

VZCZCXRO0857
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHGO #1210 3620802
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 280802Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6968
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1640
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0783
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 4694
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4328
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7874
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5435
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1279
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1293
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0148
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS RANGOON 001210

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS, G/AIAG;
PACOM FOR FPA;
USDA FOR FAS/PECAD, FAS/CNMP, FAS/AAD, APHIS;
BANGKOK FOR USAID:JMACARTHUR, APHIS:NCARDENAS, REO:JWALLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID AMED PGOV PREL CASC TBIO KFLU BM
SUBJECT: SUSPECTED AI OUTBREAK IN POULTRY IN EASTERN SHAN
STATE

REF: A. RANGOON 1180

B. RANGOON 1133

1. (SBU) Burmese Livestock Breeding and Veterinary
Department (LBVD) officials informed us on December 28 that
from December 23-24, approximately 6 chickens died on one
farm in Yang Kham village, Mong Hpayak Township in Eastern
Shan State. Mong Hpayak Township is located 50 miles from
Kyaing Tone Township (a.k.a. Kentong), home of Burma's first
human case of H5N1 infection (Ref A). The rapid test kit
conducted by the Regional Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in
Kyaing Tone on December 25 tested positive for AI Type A.
LBVD sent further samples to the Central Veterinary
Diagnostic Laboratory in Rangoon on December 26. Results of
the PCR tests are still pending. Assuming positive test
results, this outbreak will be the second in Eastern Shan
State in 2007 (Ref B).

2. (SBU) According to LBVD officials, Kyaing Tone Avian
Influenza officials implemented GOB AI biosecurity measures
and culled 1,030 chickens, 20 ducks, 6 geese, 29 chicken
eggs, and 17 geese eggs on the infected farm. Authorities
quarantined the farm on December 27, imposing a restricted
zone within a one kilometer radius and a control zone of
three kilometers. LBVD also prohibited the movement of
poultry and poultry products within the township. The head
of the Shan State LBVD office Dr. Maung Ko, Veterinary
Research Officer Dr. Win Myint, and local authorities
traveled to Mong Hpayak Township on December 27 to conduct
field surveillance and check and monitor the health of
poultry on farms in nearby villages.

3. (SBU) Officials have not yet determined the source of the
virus, although LBVD Director General Maung Maung Myint
opined that ducks recently imported from China may have
carried the virus into Burma. LVBD does not suspect any
human cases but will closely monitor the people living around
the infected area. LBVD has informed both Rangoon and
regional FAO offices of the outbreak. LBVD will inform the
OIE once the tests are positive for H5N1.
VILLAROSA

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