VZCZCXRO2647
OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHCI #0032 0281248
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 281248Z JAN 08
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1850
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD FAS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0078
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME PRIORITY 0008
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2262

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000032 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PLS PASS CDC - COX AND BLOUNT AND HHS - STEIGER AND HICKEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR CASC SENV ECON ETRD AMED IN
SUBJECT: AI IN W. BENGAL: SITREP 11 
 
REF: KOLKATA 30 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1.  (U) This is an action message, please see para. 7. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Over the January 26-27 weekend, the avian 
influenza (AI) virus spread to South 24 Parganas, West Midnapur 
districts, and newer areas in the already-affected Murshidabad 
and Cooch Behar districts.  This brings the number of 
AI-affected districts to 13 (out of a total 19 districts in the 
state -note: previous reports improperly listed 18.)   H5N1 was 
detected in samples from backyard poultry in Budge Budge area of 
¶S. 24 Parganas, which is 11 miles south of Kolkata.  As culling 
operations continue, the GOWB has announced financial assistance 
to those who have lost their poultry.  ConGen met with W. Bengal 
Home Secretary and AI Project Secretary to express the USG's 
interest to assist AI control efforts in the state.  The Health 
Secretary asked for information on efficient methods for culling 
 
SIPDIS 
large numbers of birds.   END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  (U) Over the January 26-27 weekend, the H5N1 virus continued 
to spread to newer districts of West Bengal. The H5N1 virus was 
confirmed in poultry samples from the Budge Budge area of South 
24 Parganas district, which is located about 11 miles south of 
Kolkata.  Samples from a West Midnapur village, located about 90 
miles west of Kolkata also tested positive for H5N1.  A few more 
administrative blocks in AI-affected Murshidabad and Cooch Behar 
districts reported the presence of the virus as well. 
 
¶4. (U) The GOWB continued its culling operations.  Media reports 
quoting GOWB officials said that 1.6 million birds have been 
culled as of January 26.  Approximately 600,000 more birds will 
be culled in the next few days.  About 1.2 million people who 
came in contact with the sick birds are under surveillance, as 
health teams go house-to-house in the affected villages. Updates 
are available at GOWB health ministry website: 
http://www.wbhealth.gov.in/avian_influenza_Bu lletin_Board.asp 
 
¶5.  (U) The economic impact of the AI-outbreak is being felt 
across the state.  Backyard poultry-owners in West Bengal have 
lost and estimated USD 40 million due to the ongoing AI 
outbreak.  The state government has promised a grant of Rs 500 
(USD 10.25) to each backyard poultry owner.  The state 
government will provide half the funds, with the GOI picking up 
the rest.  The GOWB plans to facilitate loans for backyard 
poultry owners to restart their businesses. 
 
¶6. (SBU)  On January 28, ConGen met with Home Secretary Prasad 
Ranjan Ray, who is responsible for state security and who is 
directing the effort to prevent AI from spreading into Kolkata, 
to discuss the AI situation.  ConGen again offered USG 
assistance as needed by the state to manage the AI outbreak. 
Ray was appreciative and said that he would convey the offer to 
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.  Ray said that AI had 
not entered Kolkata and that measures to monitor and restrict 
poultry entering the city were sufficient. 
 
¶7. (SBU) ConGen also met with the WB Ministry of Health's Dr. 
Rajendra Shukla to discuss his ministry's AI response.  Shulkla 
admitted that it had taken time to get rapid response teams in 
place but that now with 1,014 teams in operation culling was 
happening rapidly.  He noted that 17 people had been tested for 
possible AI but all results were negative.  He also believed 
that the health ministry had sufficient measures and resources 
in place to respond to possible human AI cases.  Shulka 
expressed interest in more efficient culling approaches as he 
commented that the manual killing of chickens by breaking their 
necks was tiring and time consuming.  ConGen responded that he 
would inquire as to more efficient methods of culling.  Post 
would appreciate information on culling methods that could 
assist the GOWB. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Comment:  GOWB officials continue to state that the AI 
outbreak is under control.  However, successive reports of new 
affected districts, indicates that the infection continues to 
spread and that more districts are likely to be report 
infections in the near future. 
 
JARDINE