Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KOLKATA234
2007-08-06 12:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
MANIPUR FINISHES AI BIRD CULL AND 550 CHICKENS DIE IN
how-toVZCZCXRO2272 PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHCI #0234/01 2181232 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 061232Z AUG 07 FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1630 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1547 RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0302 RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0093 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0023 RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD FAS WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEHPH/CDC CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEHC/USAID WASHDC RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000234
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AIAG - HSUMMERS, JLANGE, TNEWTON
DEPT PLS PASS TO HHS - WSTEIGER, DBELL, CHICKEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU EAGR TBIO SENV CASC IN BM
SUBJECT: MANIPUR FINISHES AI BIRD CULL AND 550 CHICKENS DIE IN
NEIGHBORING TRIPURA -- TEST RESULTS PENDING
REF: A) KOLKATA 219 B) KOLKATA 220 C) KOLKATA 226 D) KOLKATA 227
KOLKATA 00000234 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000234
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AIAG - HSUMMERS, JLANGE, TNEWTON
DEPT PLS PASS TO HHS - WSTEIGER, DBELL, CHICKEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU EAGR TBIO SENV CASC IN BM
SUBJECT: MANIPUR FINISHES AI BIRD CULL AND 550 CHICKENS DIE IN
NEIGHBORING TRIPURA -- TEST RESULTS PENDING
REF: A) KOLKATA 219 B) KOLKATA 220 C) KOLKATA 226 D) KOLKATA 227
KOLKATA 00000234 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) SUMMARY: On August 4 culling operations in response to
the recent H5N1 Avian Influenza outbreak ended in Manipur, with
an estimated 330,000 birds culled. Local authorities are now
concentrating on surveillance and monitoring activities.
Samples taken from four people living on the Chingmeirong farm,
where the outbreak occurred and who had demonstrated "flu like"
symptoms over the weekend, have tested negative for H5N1 virus.
In the nearby state of Tripura, around 500 chickens died at the
Divoyodayay Krishi Vigyan Kendra farm between August 1 and 3.
The Tripura state government is conducting surveillance along
the Tripura-Bangladesh border, is implementing decontamination
measures, and is keeping Rapid Response Teams on standby as
officials wait for the test results from the dead birds. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) On August 4, the the Manipur State Animal Resources
Department completed culling and burial of poultry and domestic
birds after the outbreak of H5N1 virus in the state. Around
330,000 birds were culled within a 3-mile radius of the infected
farm at Chingmeirong, near Imphal. In addition to destroying
domestic fowl, including chicken, ducks, and pigeons, the Rapid
Response Teams destroyed 28,000 eggs and 25,242 kg of poultry
feed. Media reported that Manipur government has given USD
175,000 as compensation to poultry owners for the culled fowl,
eggs and feed.
3. (U) The Director of Manipur's Animal Resources Department
told Post that his department was now concentrating on
mopping-up and surveillance activities. Surveillance is being
maintained within a 6-mile radius from the Chingmeirong farm,
and door-to-door surveillance is continuing in 79 villages where
culling has taken place. As of August 5, there have been no
further reports of unusual poultry deaths in Manipur.
4. (U) 40 Rapid Response Teams of Manipur's Health Department
are continuing their daily checks of the people living within
the surveillance zone. Contacts in Imphal confirmed that
clinical samples from four boys from the Chingmeirong farm, who
were suffering from upper respiratory tract infections, have
come back negative for the H5N1 virus. The boys were kept in
isolation when they reported "flu like" symptoms on August 2.
The samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology in
Pune and also to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases
in New Delhi. The samples tested negative in both laboratories.
5. (U) In Tripura, approximately 550 poultry died at the
Divoyodayay Krishi Vigyan Kendra farm, which is located in the
Chebri village in Khowai subdivision of West Tripura district,
about 50 miles northwest of Tripura's state capital Agartala.
The birds died between August 1 and 3. Tripura's Animal
Resources Department has collected samples and sent these to
High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal for
testing and is awaiting the results.
6. (U) Contacts in Agartala believe that the birds "may have
died due to some other infection." The Tripura government,
meanwhile, is keeping 71 Rapid Response Team on standby. The
Indian Border Security Force has stepped up vigilance along the
India-Bangladesh border to prevent smuggling of poultry and
poultry products into India. Decontamination measures such as
spraying vehicles with sodium hypochlorite solution are taking
place at border check-posts. The Tripura Chamber of Commerce
KOLKATA 00000234 002.2 OF 002
President told Post that Chamber members are reporting a decline
in demand for poultry and that local poultry prices were falling.
JARDINE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AIAG - HSUMMERS, JLANGE, TNEWTON
DEPT PLS PASS TO HHS - WSTEIGER, DBELL, CHICKEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU EAGR TBIO SENV CASC IN BM
SUBJECT: MANIPUR FINISHES AI BIRD CULL AND 550 CHICKENS DIE IN
NEIGHBORING TRIPURA -- TEST RESULTS PENDING
REF: A) KOLKATA 219 B) KOLKATA 220 C) KOLKATA 226 D) KOLKATA 227
KOLKATA 00000234 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) SUMMARY: On August 4 culling operations in response to
the recent H5N1 Avian Influenza outbreak ended in Manipur, with
an estimated 330,000 birds culled. Local authorities are now
concentrating on surveillance and monitoring activities.
Samples taken from four people living on the Chingmeirong farm,
where the outbreak occurred and who had demonstrated "flu like"
symptoms over the weekend, have tested negative for H5N1 virus.
In the nearby state of Tripura, around 500 chickens died at the
Divoyodayay Krishi Vigyan Kendra farm between August 1 and 3.
The Tripura state government is conducting surveillance along
the Tripura-Bangladesh border, is implementing decontamination
measures, and is keeping Rapid Response Teams on standby as
officials wait for the test results from the dead birds. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) On August 4, the the Manipur State Animal Resources
Department completed culling and burial of poultry and domestic
birds after the outbreak of H5N1 virus in the state. Around
330,000 birds were culled within a 3-mile radius of the infected
farm at Chingmeirong, near Imphal. In addition to destroying
domestic fowl, including chicken, ducks, and pigeons, the Rapid
Response Teams destroyed 28,000 eggs and 25,242 kg of poultry
feed. Media reported that Manipur government has given USD
175,000 as compensation to poultry owners for the culled fowl,
eggs and feed.
3. (U) The Director of Manipur's Animal Resources Department
told Post that his department was now concentrating on
mopping-up and surveillance activities. Surveillance is being
maintained within a 6-mile radius from the Chingmeirong farm,
and door-to-door surveillance is continuing in 79 villages where
culling has taken place. As of August 5, there have been no
further reports of unusual poultry deaths in Manipur.
4. (U) 40 Rapid Response Teams of Manipur's Health Department
are continuing their daily checks of the people living within
the surveillance zone. Contacts in Imphal confirmed that
clinical samples from four boys from the Chingmeirong farm, who
were suffering from upper respiratory tract infections, have
come back negative for the H5N1 virus. The boys were kept in
isolation when they reported "flu like" symptoms on August 2.
The samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology in
Pune and also to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases
in New Delhi. The samples tested negative in both laboratories.
5. (U) In Tripura, approximately 550 poultry died at the
Divoyodayay Krishi Vigyan Kendra farm, which is located in the
Chebri village in Khowai subdivision of West Tripura district,
about 50 miles northwest of Tripura's state capital Agartala.
The birds died between August 1 and 3. Tripura's Animal
Resources Department has collected samples and sent these to
High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal for
testing and is awaiting the results.
6. (U) Contacts in Agartala believe that the birds "may have
died due to some other infection." The Tripura government,
meanwhile, is keeping 71 Rapid Response Team on standby. The
Indian Border Security Force has stepped up vigilance along the
India-Bangladesh border to prevent smuggling of poultry and
poultry products into India. Decontamination measures such as
spraying vehicles with sodium hypochlorite solution are taking
place at border check-posts. The Tripura Chamber of Commerce
KOLKATA 00000234 002.2 OF 002
President told Post that Chamber members are reporting a decline
in demand for poultry and that local poultry prices were falling.
JARDINE