VZCZCXRO6812
PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHCI #0227 2121136
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 311136Z JUL 07
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1621
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0052
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0022
RUEHPH/CDC CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1993

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000227 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AIAG - HSUMMERS, JLANGE 
DEPT PLS PASS TO USTR AND HHS - WSTEIGER, DBELL, CHICKEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU TBIO SENV EAGR IN BM BG PGOV
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: MANIPUR SITREP JULY 31, 2007 
 
REF: KOLKATA 226 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1.  (U)  SUMMARY: As of July 31, culling operations continued in 
Manipur at over 34 locations in and around Imphal.  Culling is 
scheduled to be completed by July 31 and an assessment taken on 
August 1.  Although there is no news of the infection spreading, 
there are unconfirmed media reports of another episode of 
poultry deaths at a farm at Khurai.  Even as the community in 
Manipur actively supports the state machinery in culling 
operations, the neighboring state of Nagaland continues to 
prepare itself for a possible outbreak. END SUMMARY 
 
¶2.  (SBU) As of July 31, culling operations continued in over 34 
locations in and around Imphal.  Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) 
culled more than 11,000 birds on July 30.  According to Manipur 
Veterinary Department sources, the total number of birds culled 
since July 26 is now 137,944 which included chickens, ducks and 
other domesticated birds.  In addition, 20,249 eggs and 11,615 
kilograms of poultry feed have been destroyed.  Culling is 
scheduled to be completed by July 31 and state officials will 
re-assess the situation with GOI agencies on August 1 to decide 
on next steps. 
 
¶3. (U) The media, quoting Manipur Veterinary Department sources, 
reported an episode of unusual poultry deaths at a farm at 
Khurai, which is adjacent to Chingmeirong.  The deaths of the 
birds reportedly took place a few days back but went unreported 
at the time.  Apparently, the farm at Khurai was located within 
the culling zone and some of the sick birds had in fact been 
culled unknowingly.  After the farm owners reported the matter 
on July 30, veterinary teams collected fecal samples of the dead 
birds and sent them for testing.  Post contacts, however, could 
not confirm the incident. 
 
¶4.  (U) Contacts in Manipur told Post that the state 
government's drive to contain the spread of avian influenza has 
received widespread public support.  Local NGOs and community 
organizations are cooperating in the culling drive by providing 
support services.  However, people's initial tendency upon 
initiation of culling was to smuggle poultry out of the culling 
zone.  Nearly 1,000 birds have been seized in the past three 
days by members of the public and police at various places after 
they were smuggled out of the infected zone.  These birds were 
later culled. 
 
¶5.  (U) In neighboring Nagaland, state officials have formed 99 
RRTs - with 15 people in each RRT -- and brought in hardware and 
personal protective equipment.  A central government team 
visited Nagaland early last week to review preparedness 
measures.  Fogging is being carried out on vehicles entering 
Nagaland from Manipur and Burma. The Nagaland Veterinary 
Department routinely collects samples according to GOI 
surveillance procedures, and has collected 700 poultry blood 
samples since January 2007.  These samples have tested negative 
so far. 
 
JARDINE