Cablegate: Avian Flu Hits Same Czech District Again

VZCZCXRO1576
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPG #0825 1940827
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 130827Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9352
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000825

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE, G/AIAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU KSTH WHO MARR MASS CASA TBIO EZ

SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU HITS SAME CZECH DISTRICT AGAIN

REF: A. RAGUE 756

B. PRAGUE 370
C. PRAGUE 314
D. PRAGUE 215

1. Authorities reported a third case of the deadly H5N1 virus in
Eastern Bohemia (Pardubice Region) on July 11. Vets discovered the
infection in two hen farms situated within the three kilometer
quarantine zone marked out after the first outbreak of the virus in
June. These farms do not belong to the previously hit co-op (ref
A). Some 70,000 poultry will be slaughtered, as well as some 750
birds kept by individual villagers. All farms within the quarantine
zone will be decontaminated within four to five days. Czech
authorities have extended the duration of healthcare and veterinary
measures introduced after the first outbreak to another 30 days from
the most recent incident.

2. Officials have not yet identified the source of the virus in the
third farm. These hens are kept in closed halls where veterinary
measures are observed, so vets suspect it was an indirect transfer
by a person or tools resulting from a lapse of discipline. Given
that the virus was found within the quarantine zone and the source
of infection is unlikely to be confirmed, the State Veterinary
Administration has decided to adopt a more drastic measure to stop
the infection from spreading -- the destruction of all remaining
poultry in the farms within the three kilometer zone (70,000
poultry).

GRABER

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