PAKISTAN: TWO AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS IN POULTRY IN

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000742 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR AMGT CASC PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: TWO AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS IN POULTRY IN NORTHERN PAKISTAN Ref: Islamabad 506 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Pakistani authorities confirmed on February 15 and 18 an outbreak of avian influenza (AI) in poultry on two commercial breeding farms in Mansehra and Abbottabad, located 100 kilometers to the north of Islamabad. To date this season, 101,000 chickens have died from the disease or been culled in eight separate poultry outbreaks. There are currently no suspected cases of AI in humans. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Pakistan's National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza (NRLAI) confirmed on February 15 and 18 the presence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (AI) at two commercial poultry farms in Mansehra and Abbottabad, located 100 kilometers to the north of Islamabad. A combined total of 2,000 birds died from the infection, confined to five-week old boiler birds in Mansehra and seven-week old breeder chickens in Abbottabad. Standard quarantine measures have been taken and the remaining 8,000 birds have been culled. ¶3. (SBU) The Mansehra and Abbottabad outbreaks are the seventh and eight confirmed H5N1 cases in Pakistan during the 2007-2008 migratory bird season. To date, 101,000 chickens have died from the disease or been culled in the outbreaks. All but the most recent two poultry outbreaks (Reftel) have occurred in northern Pakistan. The first case occurred on October 26 on a commercial farm in Buttal, 150 kilometers to the north of Islamabad. 4,000 of the diseased seven-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, to the north of Islamabad, on November 1 and 20. A total of 21,000 birds were culled at both infection sites. H5N1 was also confirmed on December 3 at a commercial poultry farm in Murree, 50 kilometers to the north of Islamabad. 3,000 of the farm's 18,000 five-week old breeder flock died from the disease; the remaining 15,000 animals were culled. ¶4. (SBU) The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) is urging all poultry farms to increase disease surveillance and immediately report any incidences of diseased or dead birds. Local animal health workers report that poultry vaccines are being administered to surrounding farms. Mansehra district livestock officer Ali Akber Khan reported to local media that there are currently no suspected human cases associated with the outbreaks. ¶5. (SBU) Pakistan Poultry Association President Abdul Basit referred to the industry as having been "badly hit," suffering "massive losses" in February alone. Basit reported that Pakistan's poultry industry, employing 1.5 million workers in over 28,000 commercial farms, accounts for 27 percent of the country's meat consumption. The industry, one of Pakistan's largest, is worth around Rs 200 billion (USD 3.2 billion). ¶6. (SBU) Comment: Outbreaks are occurring as expected this migratory bird season, with the majority focused in the country's north. Pakistan's animal and human health workers clearly understand the threat that pandemic influenza poses to the nation's healthcare infrastructure. However, little has been done to combat the virus on a national scale. Rural Pakistan, in particular, continues to be at high risk due to a dearth of resources and training. End Comment. PATTERSON