Cablegate: Gob Declares Mon State Free of Ai

VZCZCXRO2864
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHGO #0809 2410840
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 290840Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6421
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1498
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0460
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 4586
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3995
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7550
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5106
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0086
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1172
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1053
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0035
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUCLRFA/USDA WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS RANGOON 000809

SIPDIS

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:JWALLER

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID AMED PGOV PREL CASC TBIO KFLU BM
SUBJECT: GOB DECLARES MON STATE FREE OF AI

REF: RANGOON 689

1. (SBU) Summary. The Burmese Livestock Breeding and Veterinary
Department (LBVD) on August 23 declared Thanbyuzayat Township in Mon
State free of Avian Influenza after the July 26 outbreak. LBVD
officials conducted post-outbreak surveillance in the area, and
collected samples from 28 chicken farms and 7 duck farms. All
samples and swabs tested negative for H5N1. As a result, LBVD
lifted the restriction on the movement of poultry and poultry
products. The source of the July 26 outbreak is still unknown. End
Summary.

2. (SBU) Burmese Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department
(LBVD) officials notified us, the FAO, and the WHO on August 23 that
it considers Thanbyuzayat Township in Mon State, home to the July 26
outbreak (Reftel), to be AI free. LBVD local officials conducted
post-outbreak surveillance in Thanbyuzayat Township and the
surrounding areas in the month following the outbreak. Officials
collected 753 serum samples and 324 cloacal swabs from 28 chicken
farms and 7 duck farms in the area. All samples, which were checked
at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Rangoon using both PCR and
HA HI (Hemagglutination and Hemagglutination Inhibition) tests,
tested negative for H5N1.

3. (SBU) Per GOB policy, LBVD can declare an area free of avian
influenza if the area meets several conditions - 21 days without a
new AI outbreak in the area, completion of satisfactory cleaning and
disinfection of the infected farms, surveillance of farms in the
surrounding area, and negative results for all samples taken from
surrounding farms. Because Thanbyuzayat Township met the above
conditions, LBVD on August 23 declared the area AI free and lifted
the restriction on the movement of poultry and poultry products that
was implemented immediately after the outbreak. The GOB still has
not uncovered the source of the July 26 outbreak.

4. (SBU) Comment: Although it appears LBVD has done all that it
can to ensure that the Thanbyuzayat area is clear of AI, LBVD
officials cannot locate the source of the outbreak because they lack
the necessary epidemiology skills. By participating in future
regional AI workshops, Burmese veterinarians should develop the
skills they need to better detect and prevent new AI outbreaks. End
Comment.

VILLAROSA

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