BURMA: SECOND AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK DETECTED

UNCLAS RANGOON 000100 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, G/AIAG; PACOM FOR FPA; USDA FOR FAS/PECAD, FAS/CNMP, FAS/AAD, APHIS; APHIS:RTANAKA, REO:HHOWARD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID AMED PGOV PREL CASC TBIO KFLU BM SUBJECT: BURMA: SECOND AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK DETECTED IN POULTRY THIS YEAR REF: RANGOON 0081 ¶1. (SBU) Burmese health officials reported to the World Organization for Animal Health February 23 that they have detected another outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Rangoon, the second in 2010. The previous outbreak began on February 1 in Myangone Township (reftel); prior to that there had been no confirmed HPAI outbreaks since 2007. In response to reports of poultry deaths beginning February 19 at a military compound in Mingaladon Township, officials culled all poultry on the compound (117 chickens and five ducks) on February 20 and confirmed via laboratory tests on February 21 the presence of HPAI. ¶2. (SBU) Officials with the Ministry of Agriculture's Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD) are investigating the outbreak and report having taken additional steps to prevent the spread of the outbreak, including disinfecting the compound and culling all poultry within a one kilometer radius. ¶3. (SBU) Unlike the early February outbreak, Burmese media have not as yet reported this recent case. DINGER