SRI LANKA - DEAD BIRDS DID NOT HAVE AVIAN FLU

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000054 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DRL/IL FOR LAUREN HOLT STATE FOR SCA/INS, OES E.O 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON SOCI EAID WHO KFLU KSCA CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA - DEAD BIRDS DID NOT HAVE AVIAN FLU REF: 2005 COLOMBO 1992 ¶1. SUMMARY: Approximately 150 birds were found dead on January 5 in the town of Nikawaratiya, in Sri Lanka's North Western Province. Others were reported in the eastern part of Pollonaruwa Province on January 10. Salmonella caused the Nikawaratiya deaths. The Pollonaruwa deaths are still under investigation, but are not expected to be due to Avian Influenza (AI). End Summary. ¶2. Nikawaratiya, where approximately 150 birds were found dead, is a migratory location for several rare types of birds, including Black Crown, Night Herons, Little Egrets and Great Egrets, which were found dead by a reservoir in the vicinity. As reported reftel, the North Western Province is considered vulnerable to AI due to widespread practice of small stake-holder free-range poultry production. ¶3. Dr. Chandrasoma, Director of Animal Health of the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) told EconFSN on January 11 that the birds in Nikawaratiya died of Salmonella, and that he did not anticipate that AI would be found in the birds in Pollonaruwa. He explained that Sri Lankans are now vigilant and report such deaths frequently. He speculated that the deaths in Pollonaruwa could be due to polluted water and stated that those deaths are now being investigated. ¶4. The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) does not have facilities to accurately diagnose the H5N1 virus, and would need to send samples overseas which authorities suspect carry AI (see reftel). However, according to DAPH, the GSL's facilities are adequate to rule out the H5N1 virus in many cases of bird deaths. ¶5. COMMENT: While Embassy remains concerned about the GSL's dependence on foreign laboratories to diagnose a true case of AI, Sri Lanka still appears to be free of the virus. BLAKE