AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK CONFIRMED IN WEST BENGAL'S SOUTH

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000043 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/IHB AND SCA/INS STATE FOR STAS AND AIAG (REED-ROWE) STATE PASS TO NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS STATE PASS TO USAID HHS FOR NIH/FIC (GLASS/MAMPILLY/HANDLEY) HHS FOR FDA (LUMPKIN/VALDEZ) HHS PASS TO OGHA (STEIGER/ABDOO) 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: AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK CONFIRMED IN WEST BENGAL'S SOUTH DINAJPUR DISTRICT REF: KOLKATA 28 ¶1. (SBU) On February 17, the Principal Secretary of West Bengal's Animal Resources Development (ARD) Department confirmed the presence of avian influenza (AI) H5N1 virus in backyard poultry of Barmahar village in South Dinajpur district. The latest epicenter is located approximately 300 km north of Kolkata, 25 km from the Bangladesh border and 180 km away from the recently reported outbreak in Coochbehar, West Bengal (Ref A). South Dinajpur is the fourth West Bengal district to report an AI outbreak since November 2008. In January 2008 there was an AI outbreak in the district; however, in a different location. The district magistrate issued a formal culling order on February 17; however, they had already begun preparations for culling after noticing the deaths of more than 800 birds since February 12. ¶2. (SBU) On February 18, the district magistrate deployed 31 Rapid Response Teams, each comprised of five persons, to cull 32,000 poultry within the three kilometer radius of the epicenter. According to the district magistrate, the teams will finish their culling work by February 20, to be followed by two days of mopping and decontamination. The three kilometer culling radius includes villages from the neighboring district of North Dinajpur. Comment ¶3. (SBU) The government of West Bengal continues to demonstrate its willingness and improved capability to effectively contain this year's AI outbreaks. Media reporting has also, as of late, tended to be less sensational and more factual, than last year's hysteria. This may reflect a difference in the smaller scale and scope of this year's AI outbreak, an improved state government response to, and a low public interest in, avian influenza. PAYNE