This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000345 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA; APHIS, BANGKOK FOR USAID 
(DR. JOHN MACARTHUR) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR EAID AMED PGOV PREL SOCI TBIO CASC KFLU BM
SUBJECT: SUSPECTED AI OUTBREAK AMONG BIRDS IN BURMA 
 
REF: A. TIDWELL - OPS CENTER 03/13/06 TELCON 
 
     ¶B. RANGOON 259 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On March 12, GOB officials informed FAO and 
WHO officials of a suspected outbreak on March 8 of Highly 
Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at a commercial poultry 
farm in Mandalay Division.  Specimens collected by a 
joint-ministerial investigation team from Rangoon tested 
positive for the H5 virus at a Rangoon laboratory on March 
¶12.  The Ministry of Livestock Breeding and Fisheries filed a 
report with Paris-based OIE (the World Organization for 
Animal Health) and on March 13 forwarded additional specimens 
to reference laboratories in Bangkok and Australia for 
verification.  Government officials held separate briefings 
for WHO and FAO on March 14 to share their latest 
information.  Embassy Rangoon EAC met to discuss the latest 
developments and review preparations.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) FAO and WHO contacts in Rangoon confirmed on March 
13 that an outbreak of suspected HPAI occurred at a 
commercial poultry farm in Mandalay Division on March 8. 
According to a report by MLF officials, 112 birds of 780 on a 
commercial poultry farm in Aung Myae Thar Zan Township died. 
Authorities destroyed the remaining 668 birds.  The Central 
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Rangoon made the 
preliminary H5 diagnosis on March 12. The GOB immediately 
reported the outbreak to OIE and sent specimens to reference 
laboratories in Thailand and Australia for verification on 
March 13. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Following media reports on Sunday night, March 12 of 
a possible HPAI outbreak in Mandalay (ref A), poloff tried to 
contact POCs in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MLF) 
and the Ministry of Health (MOH).  Key contacts had already 
left for Mandalay Division to research the case. 
 
¶4. (SBU) MOH and MLF officials briefed local WHO and FAO 
representatives on March 14.  Dr. Tin Win Maung, Director 
General of the Department of Health, told WHO that there were 
no human AI cases, but the MOH would increase surveillance 
efforts among human populations living near the outbreak 
area.  A reliable embassy contact at the Mandalay General 
Hospital claims the hospital has admitted three persons for 
observation.  All three lived near the outbreak area and 
displayed flu-like symptoms.  A joint MLF-MOH investigation 
team of 10 persons continues to follow up on outbreak 
developments in Mandalay (ref B). 
 
¶5. (SBU) According to WHO sources, FAO Bangkok received the 
specimens from Burma at noon on March 14.  The delay in 
transporting the specimens was due to GOB export 
requirements.  FAO told WHO that test results should be 
available on March 15. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Embassy EAC met on March 14 to review the situation 
and mission precautions.  The EAC agreed to hold a briefing 
for FSNs and a town hall meeting for the U.S. community on 
March 15; to continue to meet WHO and FAO officials for daily 
updates; and to consult regularly with CDC, USAID, and RMO in 
Bangkok for additional guidance. 
 
¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: We expected HPAI to surface in Burma, since 
it has also appeared among birds in neighboring countries. 
We find encouraging the Burmese officials' openness in 
reporting the outbreak to international organizations and 
working with them to address the issue.  The Ministry of 
Livestock and Fisheries, the Ministry of Health, WHO, and FAO 
in Burma all lack skilled epidemiologists and equipment 
required to test viruses quickly and to protect personnel 
exposed to HPAI-infected animals.  In this particular area, 
the GOB is proving very receptive to U.S. technical advice. 
If we are able to assist with some of these urgent needs, we 
may also be able to play a role in preventing its further 
spread.  END COMMENT. 
VILLAROSA