Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KOLKATA41
2008-02-01 15:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
AI IN W. BENGAL - SITREP 15
how-toVZCZCXRO7417 OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHCI #0041 0321537 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 011537Z FEB 08 FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1859 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD FAS WASHINGTON DC RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0084 RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME IMMEDIATE 0013 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2273
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000041
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT PLS PASS HHS AND CDC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR SENV CASC AMED PGOV IN
SUBJECT: AI IN W. BENGAL - SITREP 15
REF: KOLKATA 38 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000041
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT PLS PASS HHS AND CDC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR SENV CASC AMED PGOV IN
SUBJECT: AI IN W. BENGAL - SITREP 15
REF: KOLKATA 38 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) Summary: On February 1, culling began in three new
blocks of West Bengal. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
announced that the culling target of 2.8 million would be met by
February 2. Quarantine guidelines regarding cullers, however,
are not being followed uniformly in the districts. Although
lapses in culling have been reported, there is no provision for
disciplinary action. GOWB health officials report that 210,700
Tamiflu doses have been distributed. End summary.
2. (U) As of January 31, the Animal Resources Department marked
the following new areas for culling efforts: Suri-1 Block
(Birbhum),Raghnathganj Block-2 (Murshidabad),and Chanditala
Block-2 (Hooghly). (Note: Blocks are approximately equivalent
to municipalities in the U.S. and the GOWB measures deployment
of personnel in terms of blocks. Block development officers are
often the key point of contact for implementing government
decisions. End note.). On January 31, the number of blocks
affected by the avian influenza outbreak in West Bengal
increased to 47 (from 45 a day earlier). About 2.5 million
birds have been culled so far out of a targeted 2.8 million.
Chief Minister Bhattacharjee announced that the target will be
met by February 2.
3. (U) It appears that quarantine guidelines are not followed
uniformly. Post contacts reported no quarantine of cullers in
Birbhum, but GOWB ARD contacts in the Cooch Behar district
reported that 40 cullers have been kept in a large room adjacent
to the Block Development Office for the past 48 hours since
finishing their culling activities. They will remain
quarantined for at least five more days and monitored for signs
of illness. All these cullers directly handled dead birds.
4. (U) In response to our inquiries about problems with
culling and quarantine procedures, GOWB's Director of Health
Services S. Bakshi told Post that there is no provision for
disciplinary action if cullers fail to do their jobs. Bakshi
maintained that over 2.5 million birds have already been culled
and that in another day the rest of the target is expected to be
met. Bakshi also said that camps for quarantining health
workers are running efficiently, and that cullers are being
detained for 10 days. According to Bakshi, 2,10,700 Tamiflu
doses have been distributed in affected areas for medical,
paramedical and other workers. The number of humans tested for
infection remains at 18.
JARDINE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT PLS PASS HHS AND CDC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR SENV CASC AMED PGOV IN
SUBJECT: AI IN W. BENGAL - SITREP 15
REF: KOLKATA 38 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) Summary: On February 1, culling began in three new
blocks of West Bengal. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
announced that the culling target of 2.8 million would be met by
February 2. Quarantine guidelines regarding cullers, however,
are not being followed uniformly in the districts. Although
lapses in culling have been reported, there is no provision for
disciplinary action. GOWB health officials report that 210,700
Tamiflu doses have been distributed. End summary.
2. (U) As of January 31, the Animal Resources Department marked
the following new areas for culling efforts: Suri-1 Block
(Birbhum),Raghnathganj Block-2 (Murshidabad),and Chanditala
Block-2 (Hooghly). (Note: Blocks are approximately equivalent
to municipalities in the U.S. and the GOWB measures deployment
of personnel in terms of blocks. Block development officers are
often the key point of contact for implementing government
decisions. End note.). On January 31, the number of blocks
affected by the avian influenza outbreak in West Bengal
increased to 47 (from 45 a day earlier). About 2.5 million
birds have been culled so far out of a targeted 2.8 million.
Chief Minister Bhattacharjee announced that the target will be
met by February 2.
3. (U) It appears that quarantine guidelines are not followed
uniformly. Post contacts reported no quarantine of cullers in
Birbhum, but GOWB ARD contacts in the Cooch Behar district
reported that 40 cullers have been kept in a large room adjacent
to the Block Development Office for the past 48 hours since
finishing their culling activities. They will remain
quarantined for at least five more days and monitored for signs
of illness. All these cullers directly handled dead birds.
4. (U) In response to our inquiries about problems with
culling and quarantine procedures, GOWB's Director of Health
Services S. Bakshi told Post that there is no provision for
disciplinary action if cullers fail to do their jobs. Bakshi
maintained that over 2.5 million birds have already been culled
and that in another day the rest of the target is expected to be
met. Bakshi also said that camps for quarantining health
workers are running efficiently, and that cullers are being
detained for 10 days. According to Bakshi, 2,10,700 Tamiflu
doses have been distributed in affected areas for medical,
paramedical and other workers. The number of humans tested for
infection remains at 18.
JARDINE