Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO54
2007-01-11 11:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA - DEAD BIRDS DID NOT HAVE AVIAN FLU
how-toVZCZCXRO5436 RR RUEHBI RUEHLMC DE RUEHLM #0054 0111138 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 111138Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5104 INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0456 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 9766 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6704 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4770 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2105 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 7269 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 5031 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1677 RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
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
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
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