VZCZCXRO7769
OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHCI #0024/01 0221312
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221312Z JAN 08
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1838
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD FAS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2249

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000024 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PLS PASS TO CDC AND HHS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR PGOV KHIV CASC IN
SUBJECT: AI IN WEST BENGAL - SITREP 6, JANUARY 19-21 
 
REF: KOLKATA 23 AND PREVIOUS 
 
KOLKATA 00000024  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  Avian Influenza continues to spread through 
the West Bengal.  Over the January 19-21 weekend, the presence 
of H5N1 was confirmed in the Bankura and Malda districts of West 
Bengal, bringing the total number of affected districts to seven 
in less than one week.  The seven affected districts now 
include:  South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Nadia, Bardwan, 
Malda and Bankura.  Poultry deaths have also been reported from 
Darjeeling and Cooch Behar.  These are northern districts of 
West Bengal -- Darjeeling is situated adjacent to Nepal and 
Sikkim and Cooch Behar borders Assam and Bhutan.  Both districts 
also border the already AI-affected Bangladesh.  South of 
Kolkata, there are reports of poultry deaths in North and South 
24 Parganas districts.  No human cases have been reported yet. 
Five people are under observation with clinical symptoms of bird 
flu.  All five are from Murshidabad district and had handled 
infected birds.  Test results are due January 22.  Culling teams 
continue to face resistance from villagers concerned about 
compensation, and culling in some districts is not moving as 
fast as needed.  Consulate Kolkata is responding by informing 
the local AmCit community and following crisis management 
tripwires.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) From January 18-20, Econ FSN visited the Birbhum, 
Murshidabad, S. Dinajpur and Malda districts.  The situation in 
¶S. Dinajpur, where H5N1 was reported on a state owned farm, 
appeared under control with 3000 chickens culled.  Family 
members of farm staff were evacuated and placed under 
surveillance.  In contrast, GWOB officials were experiencing 
greater problems in Birbhum and the districts of Bardhaman, 
Murshidabad, Bankura, and Malda.  In these districts the farms 
are spread over a wide area, and poultry operations are 
informal, backyard operations.  Often there are only 8-10 birds 
in any one house, and birds move freely into neighboring 
households.  GOWB authorities have to go house to house in this 
large area to identify and cull birds, slowing the process 
considerably. 
 
¶3.  (U) Econ FSN found in the rural districts that the threat of 
AI was not being clearly explained to residents.  Culling teams 
told people, without clear explanation as to why, that they had 
to turn over their birds.   As a result, the villagers remain 
suspicious and resistant to the culling operations.  The issue 
has also been politicized.   Village elections are scheduled in 
¶W. Bengal for May, and some local leaders are reluctant to 
assist ARD officials for fear of being  seen as complicit in the 
culling operations.  Also, ARD culling teams have only been 
providing villagers receipts for culled birds to file claims 
with local authorities and not cash.  Many residents fear that 
compensation money will go to local politicians and those who 
support the ruling CPM party first. 
 
¶4.  (U) Econ FSN also observed an "isolation ward" at Rampurhat 
Subdivisional Hospital in Birbhum district.  The hospital is 
about 30 minutes' drive from Margram, the epicenter of the 
outbreak.  The isolation ward is a separate room in the hospital 
with four beds, draped in non-sterile green linen.  The hospital 
does not have ventilators (these have been requested from New 
Delhi) or adequate equipment to treat seriously ill victims. 
 
¶5.  (U) The GOWB continues to lack sufficient manpower to 
address the outbreak. GOWB officials indicated that the number 
of culling teams will increase to 500.  Right now there are less 
than 100.  Personnel from the Assam Animal Resources Department 
and from other states have arrived to join the GOWB teams. The 
GOWB has placed orders for 50,000 more personal protection kits 
from 3M, a U.S.-based company. 
 
(U) On January 21, Pol Chief attended an emergency meeting 
organized by UNICEF in Kolkata.  The GOWB 
approached UNICEF to help increase public awareness about AI and 
to conduct informational campaigns in W. Bengal. 
UNICEF has released television, radio, and print ads about the 
threat of AI, proper hygiene practices, and how to 
report suspicious bird deaths.  Representatives from the German 
Consulate, the Finnish Honorary Consul, and 
UNICEF partners received a brief presentation on AI and the 
current situation in W. Bengal from UNICEF"S AI team 
leader.  UNICEF asked all present for additional resources to 
help the information campaign effort, including 
funds to cover printing costs. 
 
¶8.  In response to the AI outbreak, Post issued a 
Department-approved warden message on January 17 to the local 
AmCit Community and provided similar warnings to Post staff.  In 
addition, the following measures have been taken: 
 
-- January 22 Post EAC met to review mission tripwires. At 
 
KOLKATA 00000024  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
present, Post is at the first tripwire, "Significant occurrences 
of AI transmitted from birds to other birds without evidence of 
sustained transmission to humans."  Responses include: 
 
Restrict official and unofficial travel to affected areas, bird 
markets and similar facilities. 
 
b.      Reinforce caution of consuming improperly cooked eggs or 
poultry meat and reinforce proper handling of raw poultry 
products.  Also advise people to avoid butcher or wet markets 
where poultry is prepared. 
 
c.      Release warning announcement to Post personnel and warden 
message to AmCits. 
 
-- On January 22, ConGen met with Animal Resource Department 
Secretary Dilip Chakrabarty and conveyed USG concerns regarding 
 
SIPDIS 
the AI outbreak (Septel). 
 
-- Post is clearing an updated warden message reflecting the 
spread of AI in West Bengal with Embassy New Delhi and the 
Department. 
 
--  On January 26 Post will conduct a "Town Hall" meeting with 
local AmCits, and representatives from local institutions, 
hospitals, hotels and international school.  ConsCouns and RMO 
will provide briefing of health issues and Mission response. 
JARDINE