VZCZCXRO2533
RR RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #0742 0511315
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201315Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5250
INFO RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 4157
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 9011
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 4862
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 3565
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2845

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000742 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR AMGT CASC PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: TWO AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS IN POULTRY IN 
NORTHERN PAKISTAN 
 
Ref: Islamabad 506 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Pakistani authorities confirmed on February 15 and 
18 an outbreak of avian influenza (AI) in poultry on two commercial 
breeding farms in Mansehra and Abbottabad, located 100 kilometers to 
the north of Islamabad.  To date this season, 101,000 chickens have 
died from the disease or been culled in eight separate poultry 
outbreaks.  There are currently no suspected cases of AI in humans. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Pakistan's National Reference Laboratory for Avian 
Influenza (NRLAI) confirmed on February 15 and 18 the presence of 
highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (AI) at two commercial 
poultry farms in Mansehra and Abbottabad, located 100 kilometers to 
the north of Islamabad.  A combined total of 2,000 birds died from 
the infection, confined to five-week old boiler birds in Mansehra 
and seven-week old breeder chickens in Abbottabad.  Standard 
quarantine measures have been taken and the remaining 8,000 birds 
have been culled. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Mansehra and Abbottabad outbreaks are the seventh and 
eight confirmed H5N1 cases in Pakistan during the 2007-2008 
migratory bird season.  To date, 101,000 chickens have died from the 
disease or been culled in the outbreaks.  All but the most recent 
two poultry outbreaks (Reftel) have occurred in northern Pakistan. 
The first case occurred on October 26 on a commercial farm in 
Buttal, 150 kilometers to the north of Islamabad. 4,000 of the 
diseased seven-week old breeder flock died of H5N1 and 38,000 birds 
were culled.  Animal health authorities confirmed two additional 
infections on commercial farms in Abbottabad, to the north of 
Islamabad, on November 1 and 20. A total of 21,000 birds were culled 
at both infection sites.  H5N1 was also confirmed on December 3 at a 
commercial poultry farm in Murree, 50 kilometers to the north of 
Islamabad.  3,000 of the farm's 18,000 five-week old breeder flock 
died from the disease; the remaining 15,000 animals were culled. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) is 
urging all poultry farms to increase disease surveillance and 
immediately report any incidences of diseased or dead birds.  Local 
animal health workers report that poultry vaccines are being 
administered to surrounding farms.  Mansehra district livestock 
officer Ali Akber Khan reported to local media that there are 
currently no suspected human cases associated with the outbreaks. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Pakistan Poultry Association President Abdul Basit referred 
to the industry as having been "badly hit," suffering "massive 
losses" in February alone.  Basit reported that Pakistan's poultry 
industry, employing 1.5 million workers in over 28,000 commercial 
farms, accounts for 27 percent of the country's meat consumption. 
The industry, one of Pakistan's largest, is worth around Rs 200 
billion (USD 3.2 billion). 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment: Outbreaks are occurring as expected this migratory 
bird season, with the majority focused in the country's north. 
Pakistan's animal and human health workers clearly understand the 
threat that pandemic influenza poses to the nation's healthcare 
infrastructure.  However, little has been done to combat the virus 
on a national scale.  Rural Pakistan, in particular, continues to be 
at high risk due to a dearth of resources and training. End Comment. 
 
 
PATTERSON