AI IN WEST BENGAL - SITREP 6, JANUARY 19-21

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000024

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PLS PASS TO CDC AND HHS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR PGOV KHIV CASC IN
SUBJECT: AI IN WEST BENGAL - SITREP 6, JANUARY 19-21

REF: KOLKATA 23 AND PREVIOUS

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1. (U) Summary: Avian Influenza continues to spread through
the West Bengal. Over the January 19-21 weekend, the presence
of H5N1 was confirmed in the Bankura and Malda districts of West
Bengal, bringing the total number of affected districts to seven
in less than one week. The seven affected districts now
include: South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Nadia, Bardwan,
Malda and Bankura. Poultry deaths have also been reported from
Darjeeling and Cooch Behar. These are northern districts of
West Bengal -- Darjeeling is situated adjacent to Nepal and
Sikkim and Cooch Behar borders Assam and Bhutan. Both districts
also border the already AI-affected Bangladesh. South of
Kolkata, there are reports of poultry deaths in North and South
24 Parganas districts. No human cases have been reported yet.
Five people are under observation with clinical symptoms of bird
flu. All five are from Murshidabad district and had handled
infected birds. Test results are due January 22. Culling teams
continue to face resistance from villagers concerned about
compensation, and culling in some districts is not moving as
fast as needed. Consulate Kolkata is responding by informing
the local AmCit community and following crisis management
tripwires. End Summary.


2. (U) From January 18-20, Econ FSN visited the Birbhum,
Murshidabad, S. Dinajpur and Malda districts. The situation in

S. Dinajpur, where H5N1 was reported on a state owned farm,
appeared under control with 3000 chickens culled. Family
members of farm staff were evacuated and placed under
surveillance. In contrast, GWOB officials were experiencing
greater problems in Birbhum and the districts of Bardhaman,
Murshidabad, Bankura, and Malda. In these districts the farms
are spread over a wide area, and poultry operations are
informal, backyard operations. Often there are only 8-10 birds
in any one house, and birds move freely into neighboring
households. GOWB authorities have to go house to house in this
large area to identify and cull birds, slowing the process
considerably.


3. (U) Econ FSN found in the rural districts that the threat of
AI was not being clearly explained to residents. Culling teams
told people, without clear explanation as to why, that they had
to turn over their birds. As a result, the villagers remain
suspicious and resistant to the culling operations. The issue
has also been politicized. Village elections are scheduled in

W. Bengal for May, and some local leaders are reluctant to
assist ARD officials for fear of being seen as complicit in the
culling operations. Also, ARD culling teams have only been
providing villagers receipts for culled birds to file claims
with local authorities and not cash. Many residents fear that
compensation money will go to local politicians and those who
support the ruling CPM party first.


4. (U) Econ FSN also observed an "isolation ward" at Rampurhat
Subdivisional Hospital in Birbhum district. The hospital is
about 30 minutes' drive from Margram, the epicenter of the
outbreak. The isolation ward is a separate room in the hospital
with four beds, draped in non-sterile green linen. The hospital
does not have ventilators (these have been requested from New
Delhi) or adequate equipment to treat seriously ill victims.


5. (U) The GOWB continues to lack sufficient manpower to
address the outbreak. GOWB officials indicated that the number
of culling teams will increase to 500. Right now there are less
than 100. Personnel from the Assam Animal Resources Department
and from other states have arrived to join the GOWB teams. The
GOWB has placed orders for 50,000 more personal protection kits
from 3M, a U.S.-based company.

(U) On January 21, Pol Chief attended an emergency meeting
organized by UNICEF in Kolkata. The GOWB
approached UNICEF to help increase public awareness about AI and
to conduct informational campaigns in W. Bengal.
UNICEF has released television, radio, and print ads about the
threat of AI, proper hygiene practices, and how to
report suspicious bird deaths. Representatives from the German
Consulate, the Finnish Honorary Consul, and
UNICEF partners received a brief presentation on AI and the
current situation in W. Bengal from UNICEF"S AI team
leader. UNICEF asked all present for additional resources to
help the information campaign effort, including
funds to cover printing costs.


8. In response to the AI outbreak, Post issued a
Department-approved warden message on January 17 to the local
AmCit Community and provided similar warnings to Post staff. In
addition, the following measures have been taken:

-- January 22 Post EAC met to review mission tripwires. At

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present, Post is at the first tripwire, "Significant occurrences
of AI transmitted from birds to other birds without evidence of
sustained transmission to humans." Responses include:

Restrict official and unofficial travel to affected areas, bird
markets and similar facilities.

b. Reinforce caution of consuming improperly cooked eggs or
poultry meat and reinforce proper handling of raw poultry
products. Also advise people to avoid butcher or wet markets
where poultry is prepared.

c. Release warning announcement to Post personnel and warden
message to AmCits.

-- On January 22, ConGen met with Animal Resource Department
Secretary Dilip Chakrabarty and conveyed USG concerns regarding

SIPDIS
the AI outbreak (Septel).

-- Post is clearing an updated warden message reflecting the
spread of AI in West Bengal with Embassy New Delhi and the
Department.

-- On January 26 Post will conduct a "Town Hall" meeting with
local AmCits, and representatives from local institutions,
hospitals, hotels and international school. ConsCouns and RMO
will provide briefing of health issues and Mission response.
JARDINE