NEW AI OUTBREAK IN BURMA'S EASTERN SHAN STATE

UNCLAS RANGOON 001133 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, G/AIAG; PACOM FOR FPA; USDA FOR FAS/PECAD, FAS/CNMP, FAS/AAD, APHIS; BANGKOK FOR USAID:JMACARTHUR, APHIS:NCARDENAS, REO:JWALLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID AMED PGOV PREL CASC TBIO KFLU BM SUBJECT: NEW AI OUTBREAK IN BURMA'S EASTERN SHAN STATE ¶1. Burmese Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD) officials informed us on November 23 that from November 4-18, approximately 1,858 chickens and 200 ducks had died in Katpa village tract, Naung Neing Village, located 5 miles from Kyaing Tone Township in Eastern Shan State. The Regional Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Kayine Tone tested two samples from the village and detected AI Type A positive. Further samples were sent to the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Rangoon on November 19. The Central Laboratory performed further PCR testing and confirmed the presence of AI sub-type H5N1 on November 21. ¶2. According to LBVD officials, all poultry within a one km radius of the index area were slaughtered by the Kyaing Tone Township Avian Influenza Disease Culling Team on November 22. The LBVD has dispatched an epidemiological surveillance team to Kyaing Tone with disinfectants, PPEs, and Combo Test Kits. The team will check and monitor the health of poultry in the nearby villages. LBVD told us that disinfection, movement control, and biosecurity measures had commenced the day of the outbreak and would continue for up to 21 days. ¶3. Although the source of the outbreak is unknown, the infected poultry were from a common area that the villagers used to raise chickens and ducks. Farmers from Naung Neing Village had recently bought 800 ducks from a dealer in Mongse village and when 200 of the ducks died, they returned the other 600 to the dealer. It is believed that the chickens may have contracted AI from the infected ducks. Kyaing Tone District Veterinary Department personnel had recently conducted AI public awareness discussions with 30 farmers from Naung Neing Village that included what control measures to take to prevent human and animal infection. There are no suspected human cases at this time and LBVD has informed both Rangoon and regional FAO offices of the outbreak. LBVD is expected to also inform the OIE of this latest outbreak. VILLAROSA