PREVENTING AVIAN INFLUENZA ALONG BURMA'S BORDERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000728 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, G/AIAG PACOM FOR FPA USDA FOR FAS/PECAD, FAS/CNMP, FAS/AAD, APHIS BANGKOK FOR USAID:JMACARTHUR, APHIS:NCARDENAS, REO:HHOWARD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID AMED PGOV PREL CASC TBIO KFLU BM SUBJECT: PREVENTING AVIAN INFLUENZA ALONG BURMA'S BORDERS RANGOON 00000728 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Despite a 2006 GOB ban on the border trade of poultry products, these products continue to enter Burma illegally from avian influenza-infected countries, risking the importation of the disease. Livestock Breeding Veterinary Department (LBVD) officials, under the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, have strengthened border control measures in 2008, seizing and culling illegally imported poultry, but their actions have been limited to eight official checkpoints. LBVD continues to strengthen coordination with its counterparts in China, Thailand, and India, sharing information on trans-boundary animal diseases, verifying health certificates, and providing notifications of breaches in trade regulations. Additionally, LBVD has launched additional outreach along the Burma-China border, educating locals on the dangers of avian influenza (AI). With limited resources, LBVD officials appear to be doing what they can to keep Burma AI-free. End Summary. Regulating Poultry Imports -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Burma has experienced 10 AI outbreaks in poultry since March 2006 and one human infection case in December 2007. Burma has not yet had any AI outbreaks in 2008. Noting that the 2006 AI strain was genetically similar to a virus found in Southern China, Ministry of Livestock officials believed that the source of the initial AI infection was either from imported poultry or wild birds that entered Burma. Consequently, the Ministry banned the importation of poultry and poultry products from any countries that have had AI infections. According to Dr. Than Htun, Deputy Director General of LBVD, to import poultry, a company must acquire a permit and document the source of the poultry products. All poultry imports must enter either through the airports in Rangoon or Mandalay, which have poultry quarantine stations, he noted. In 2008, LBVD has permitted 13 local poultry farms to import day old chicks and other poultry products from Australia, France, and the Netherlands. ¶3. (SBU) Despite GOB import restrictions, poultry and poultry products still enter through Burma's porous border, often illegally. Burma shares a more than 4,000-mile border with China, Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India; trade contacts estimate that 2007 border trade totaled USD one billion. To regulate trade, the GOB established eight border checkpoints -- Muse (along the China border),Lisa (near China),Myawaddy and Kawthong (along the Thai border),Maungdaw (near Bangladesh),Tamu (near India),Reekhawda (near northern India) and Tachileik (on the Laos-Thai border) -- where Customs, police, and other officials monitor the legal flow of goods into and out of Burma. However, officials at these checkpoints are powerless to regulate trade along the rest of Burma's largely porous border. Preventing the Importation of AI -------------- ¶5. (SBU) During the past two years, LBVD has more than doubled the number of officials stationed at the eight border checkpoints. LBVD staff verify the number and type of animals entering and exiting Burma, check animal products and feed against import/export permits, and authenticate health and laboratory certificates. According to Dr. Than Htun, LBVD officials also monitor the health of animals and animal products entering Burma, as well as confiscate and destroy any illegal products. ¶6. (SBU) Dr. Than Htun admitted that illegal poultry imports continue to be a problem, particularly along the China border. While the GOB has no official data on illegal poultry imports, LBVD RANGOON 00000728 002.2 OF 002 officials estimate that more than 5,000 birds cross Burma's border illegally each day. In 2007, LBVD increased surveillance in key townships, including Muse and Lashio in Shan State and Lisa in Kachin State. This year, LBVD conducted additional outreach along the China border, educating the local population on the dangers of avian influenza and the best way to prevent the spread of the disease among animals and humans. Dr. Than Htun proudly highlighted several cases this year where LBVD officials seized more than 8,000 eggs and several hundred broiler chickens as they were illegally being shipped over the border from China. Authorities followed proper AI procedures, culling the chickens and disposing of the eggs to prevent any possible transmission of AI, he explained. Expanding Bilateral Cooperation -------------- ¶7. (SBU) In addition to monitoring the border, LBVD officials have also improved relations with the Chinese and Thai Veterinary Departments, according to Dr. Than Htun. Currently, the three agencies share information on trans-boundary animal diseases, including AI and foot and mouth disease, verify veterinary health certificates, and do cross training on laboratory capacities. They also notify the exporting country of any non-compliance with animal quarantine prohibitions, restrictions, or requirements, Dr. Than Htun explained. ¶8. (SBU) In 2004, the Burmese and Chinese Governments jointly established two animal quarantine laboratories in Muse and Kyaingtone in Shan State, where veterinarians test animals for diseases before they enter or leave Burma. The GOB also set up two animal inspection points in Myawaddy and Tachileik along the Thai border, where LBVD staff inspect incoming animals. According to LBVD Director General U Maung Maung Nyunt, no animal quarantine laboratories exist along the India-Burma and Bangladesh-Burma borders, due to limited animal trade between the countries. However, U Maung Maung Nyunt has sought to improve cooperation with India and met with GOI officials in early September to discuss cross-border animal disease control. LBVD plans to establish a quarantine laboratory in Tamu, near India, within the next year, he noted. Comment -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Although Burma has not had an AI outbreak in poultry since November 2007, LBVD officials remain vigilant, taking concrete steps to strengthen the national program and prevent future outbreaks. The greatest threat comes from outside of Burma; as more poultry and poultry products move across Burma's border, particularly from China, the threat of a new AI outbreak increases. LBVD admittedly does not have the staff or the capacity to monitor the 4,000-mile border, so it must improve government-to-government cooperation and expand educational outreach efforts. The Burmese have come far in the past two years, openly discussing, sharing information, and cooperating on AI issues with us and their neighbors. Despite their success, they are their own worst critics. Their honest assessment of their capabilities shows a real understanding of the importance of preventing AI outbreaks and the need to work with neighboring countries to prevent a regional pandemic. We should continue to work with LBVD and the Ministry of Health to strengthen their capabilities to combat this disease, which knows no borders. DINGER