Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KOLKATA153
2009-06-08 04:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:  

FRESH AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK IN WEST BENGAL

Tags:  EAGR SENV CASC PGOV AMED KFLU IN BD 
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VZCZCXRO2681
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHCI #0153 1590444
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080444Z JUN 09
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2379
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA 0001
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2924
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000153 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
STATE PASS TO USAID
HHS PASS TO OGHA (KULIKOWSKI/CUMMINGS)
STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/IHB AND SCA/INS
STATE FOR STAS AND AIAG (REED-ROWE)
HHS FOR NIH/FIC (GLASS/MAMPILLY/HANDLEY)
HHS FOR FDA (LUMPKIN/VALDEZ)
HHS FOR CDC (BLOUNT/COX)
USDA FOR APHIS (FLEMING/BURLESON)
USDA FOR FAS (RIKER/BEAN)
NEW DELHI FOR FAS/APHIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR SENV CASC PGOV AMED KFLU IN BD
SUBJECT: FRESH AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK IN WEST BENGAL

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000153

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
STATE PASS TO USAID
HHS PASS TO OGHA (KULIKOWSKI/CUMMINGS)
STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/IHB AND SCA/INS
STATE FOR STAS AND AIAG (REED-ROWE)
HHS FOR NIH/FIC (GLASS/MAMPILLY/HANDLEY)
HHS FOR FDA (LUMPKIN/VALDEZ)
HHS FOR CDC (BLOUNT/COX)
USDA FOR APHIS (FLEMING/BURLESON)
USDA FOR FAS (RIKER/BEAN)
NEW DELHI FOR FAS/APHIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR SENV CASC PGOV AMED KFLU IN BD
SUBJECT: FRESH AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK IN WEST BENGAL


1. (SBU) On May 27, the GOI's central Ministry of Agriculture
confirmed a new outbreak of avian influenza among poultry at
Hemtabad in the North Dinajpur district of West Bengal.
Hemtabad is located about 490 KM north of Kolkata and 20 KM from
the border with Bangladesh. Contacts in West Bengal's state
Animal Resources Development (ARD) Department told PolFSN that
they sent samples collected from Hemtabad to the GOI's High
Security Animal Disease Laboratory, which confirmed the H5N1
strain of the virus. Government officials started culling on
May 29 and as of May 31 approximately 25,000 chickens had been
culled. ARD completed culling and sanitization on June 2.


2. (SBU) ARD contacts confirmed media reports that people
resisted attempts to cull chickens in a few villages. According
to the ARD Department, this was to protest the fact that
government officials were not paying compensation at the time
the villagers were handing over their poultry. According to the
ARD, villagers started to cooperate after officials started
making spot payment of Rs. 50 (USD 1) per layer and Rs 40 (USD
0.8) per broiler. ARD contacts pointed out that in the past,
H5N1 has always been detected in the cooler months between
November and March.

Comment


3. (SBU) GOWB officials cannot explain why the latest outbreak
has occurred in warm weather and are concerned that more
resources will need to be devoted to avian influenza response.
Another factor they cannot explain is the low mortality rates
(20 chickens dying out of 1,200 in 72 hours in backyard
poultries). Despite these anomalies, the state response seems
to be in line with extraordinary precautions associated with
standardized H5N1 containment measures.

PAYNE