AVIAN FLU HITS SAME CZECH DISTRICT AGAIN

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000825 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE, G/AIAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU KSTH WHO MARR MASS CASA TBIO EZ SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU HITS SAME CZECH DISTRICT AGAIN REF: A. RAGUE 756 ¶B. PRAGUE 370 ¶C. PRAGUE 314 ¶D. PRAGUE 215 ¶1. Authorities reported a third case of the deadly H5N1 virus in Eastern Bohemia (Pardubice Region) on July 11. Vets discovered the infection in two hen farms situated within the three kilometer quarantine zone marked out after the first outbreak of the virus in June. These farms do not belong to the previously hit co-op (ref A). Some 70,000 poultry will be slaughtered, as well as some 750 birds kept by individual villagers. All farms within the quarantine zone will be decontaminated within four to five days. Czech authorities have extended the duration of healthcare and veterinary measures introduced after the first outbreak to another 30 days from the most recent incident. ¶2. Officials have not yet identified the source of the virus in the third farm. These hens are kept in closed halls where veterinary measures are observed, so vets suspect it was an indirect transfer by a person or tools resulting from a lapse of discipline. Given that the virus was found within the quarantine zone and the source of infection is unlikely to be confirmed, the State Veterinary Administration has decided to adopt a more drastic measure to stop the infection from spreading -- the destruction of all remaining poultry in the farms within the three kilometer zone (70,000 poultry). GRABER