VZCZCXRO1373
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHGO #0212/01 0601001
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 011001Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5782
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1337
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0196
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 4483
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3767
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7292
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 4852
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0055
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1059
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1062
RUDKIA/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 0878
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000212 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE 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: BURMA HPAI OUTBREAK CONFIRMED, ACTION TAKEN 
 
RANGOON 00000212  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: On February 28, Burma's Livestock Breeding 
and Veterinary Department (LBVD) reported to OIE an outbreak 
of H5N1 in chickens on a farm in the Rangoon township of 
Mayangone.  Rangoon officials immediately culled all poultry 
at the farm by cremation, disinfected the farm, and began 
surveillance on the animals and humans within a one-kilometer 
radius.  As of 4:00 pm on March 1, no evidence appeared to 
indicate the spread of AI to humans or to neighboring areas. 
End summary. 
 
Virus Detected, Immediate Culling 
--------------------------------- 
¶2. (U)  According to LBVD and FAO officials, owners of an 
isolated family farm in Mayangone, a Rangoon township 
northwest of the city center, reported that eight chickens 
(layers) died on/about February 25, twenty-five died o/a 
February 26, and thirty-five died o/a February 27.  The 
farmers notified LBVD officials, who used Rapid Test Kits to 
determine the presence of H5N1 on February 27.  On February 
28, PCR testing in the National Lab confirmed the diagnosis. 
The LBVD Director General, Maung Maung Nyunt, immediately 
notified OIE of the findings. 
 
¶3. (U) According to LBVD officials, the Yangon City 
Development Council (YCDC) responded to their request for 
assistance on Feb. 28, and sent personnel to gather the 
poultry and cremate them at the Rangoon crematorium. 
Officials destroyed all poultry on the farm: 290 remaining 
live layers, 500 pullets, 500 day-old chicks (DOCs), and 200 
ducks.   FAO reported that responders used Personal 
Protective Equipment. 
 
¶4. (U) LBVD used disinfectant on the farm on February 28 and 
March 1.  The farm, while within Rangoon limits, is located 
in a relatively isolated residential area with many vacant 
lots.  No other farms are nearby.  LBVD will maintain 
surveillance on all animals within one-kilometer radius.  One 
family runs the farm, and Ministry of Health officials will 
monitor all family members, as well as residents living 
within a one-kilometer radius, for signs of infection.  Late 
on March 1, officials prohibited all sales of poultry and 
eggs in five townships: North Okkalapa, South Okkalapa, 
Yankin, Mayangone and Insein. 
 
Possible Source 
--------------- 
¶5. (SBU)  The GOB continues to investigate the source of the 
virus.  Information has circulated about two possibilities. 
Local and FAO contacts told us unconfirmed rumors that a 
number of crows died in the area around the farm a few days 
before the chickens died.  One vet said he warned residents 
to take biosecurity precautions when he heard about the 
crows, but did not report the possibility of AI.  FAO 
contacts tell us they suspect the crows were infected not 
with AI, but with low pathogenic influenza.  Another possible 
source is the day-old chicks (DOCs), which the farmers bought 
from another breeder.  Authorities have begun efforts to 
trace the source of the DOCs and to determine if other fQms 
bought from that source. 
 
¶6.  (U) Comment: Officials successfully contained Burma's 
previous HPAI outbreak in March-April 2006 through extensive 
culling.  So far, it appears that GOB officials have 
responded to the current AI outbreak promptly, by the book, 
and have shared the information they had.  They maintain 
communication with UN agencies. LBVD told us they plan to 
issue a press release on March 2 to keep the public informed. 
 Post will continue to monitor the situation closely.  End 
 
RANGOON 00000212  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
comment. 
VILLAROSA