ANOTHER OUTBREAK OF AVIAN INFLUENZA IN PAKISTAN

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 005199

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

USDA FOR APHIS, FAS/OFSO/OSTA/OCRA AND FSIS
CAIRO FOR APHIS/DR. LINDA LOGAN
KABUL FOR USAID/DR. ROBERT SMITH
NEW DELHI FOR AGMINSCOUNS/HIGGINS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR AMGT PK
SUBJECT: ANOTHER OUTBREAK OF AVIAN INFLUENZA IN PAKISTAN



1. (SBU) Summary: Pakistani authorities reported an outbreak of
avian influenza (AI) affecting 18,000 birds on a commercial poultry
farm 50 kilometers north of Islamabad. The Government of Pakistan
(GOP) has confirmed four poultry outbreaks so far this season, with
81,000 birds dead or culled. There have been no confirmed cases of
AI in humans. End Summary.


2. (U) Pakistan's National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza
(NRLAI) confirmed on December 3 the presence of highly pathogenic
H5N1 avian influenza at a commercial poultry farm in Murree, 50
kilometers (35 miles) north of Islamabad. The infection was
confined to a single 35-day old breeder flock, 3,000 of which died
before animal health authorities were notified. Standard quarantine
measures have been taken and the remaining 15,000 birds in the flock
have been culled. The Government of Pakistan (GOP) is gathering
relevant data and will report the case to the Office International
Des Epizooties (OIE).


3. (U) The Murree outbreak is the fourth in the 2007-2008 migratory
bird season. The first case occurred on October 26 on a commercial
farm in Buttal, 150 kilometers (105 miles) to the north of
Islamabad. 4,000 of the diseased 7-week old breeder flock died of
H5N1 and 38,000 birds were culled. Animal health authorities
confirmed two additional infections on commercial farms in
Abbottabad, also to the north of Islamabad, on November 1 and 20. A
total of 21,000 birds were culled at both infection sites.
Consequently, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock has
urged all poultry farms to remain vigilant, improve sanitary
conditions and report unusually high poultry mortality rates.


4. (SBU) Epidemiologists at the National Institute of Health
reported to Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) personnel in Islamabad
that all recent suspected human AI cases tested negative. There
have been no recorded cases of AI in humans in Pakistan.


5. (SBU) Comment: More poultry outbreaks are expected as the season
progresses, given the pattern of last year's outbreaks.
Historically, the disease is first reported in the north of country,
gradually spreading south to the provinces of Punjab and Sindh.
Migratory bird patterns and poor sanitation conditions on commercial
poultry farms continue to be the primary drivers of AI infection.
The GOP has initiated a three-year, USD 19.6 million national
program for the prevention and control of avian influenza. However,
a more intensive, sustained and widespread program is needed to
effectively prevent and control the spread of the virus. End
Comment.

PATTERSON