VZCZCXRO1282
OO RUEHCI RUEHHM
DE RUEHKA #1061/01 2821337
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081337Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7509
INFO RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0689
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0340
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0860
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2371
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 9888
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 8644
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8528
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 0145
RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 0058
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1484
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0037

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001061 
 
AIDAC 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FOR DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY/ETERPSTRA 
USDA FOR OFSO/JDEYER 
USDA FOR FAS/OA/MYOST/WKMILLER 
USDA FOR FAS/OCRA/CALEXANDER/JCARVER 
USDA FOR FAS/OSTA/CHAMILTON 
USDA FOR APHIS/MFLEMINGS/TBURLESON 
SEOUL FOR APHIS/GEORGE ANDY BALL 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA/PB, EB/TPP, AIAG HREED-ROWE 
NEW DELHI FOR FAS OLIVER FLAKE 
 
E.O.12356: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU EAGR ECON ETRD IN WTO CASC BG
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK Q BANGLADESH 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  1.  A new outbreak of Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in 
poultry occurred in Bangladesh September 24.  HPAI was first officially 
reported in Bangladesh in March 2007.  Since that time, outbreaks of 
HPAI (H5) in poultry have been reported or confirmed on 288 farms.  One 
human HPAI case was confirmed in March 2008.  Historically, most of the 
HPAI outbreaks in Bangladesh have occurred during the months of January 
through May. 
 
Most Recent Outbreak 
-------------------- 
 
¶2.  After several months without a recurrence of avian influenza (AI) 
in Bangladesh, authorities reported a new outbreak on September 24.  A 
chicken farm with a population of approximately 1,100 birds in Naogoan 
district, in northwestern Bangladesh, reported unusual poultry 
mortality to the Government of Bangladesh (GOB).  (NOTE: Naogaon 
borders the Indian state of West Bengal.  END NOTE.)  GOB veterinarians 
from the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) investigated the farm 
and took samples for testing. At that time, the rapid antigen test for 
Influenza A was negative. The rapid antigen test, as with many other 
screening tests, can sometimes yield inaccurate results. 
 
¶3.  Necropsies (animal autopsies) on chickens from the farm led local 
experts to conclude initially that Newcastle disease was the cause of 
death.  In Bangladesh, there is no policy or protocol for culling 
chickens infected with Newcastle, so no further action was taken by the 
GOB at that time. 
 
¶4.  Over the next week, poultry at that farm continued to die.  By 
September 29, approximately 760 more birds were dead, and the farmer 
requested DLS veterinarians return for further investigation. Samples 
taken on September 29 tested positive for Influenza A by rapid antigen 
test.  As per GOB guidelines established in April 2008, culling of the 
farmQs chickens began immediately after the positive Influenza A 
result.  Workers depopulated the farm of its remaining 340 birds, and 
they cleaned and disinfected the farm. (NOTE:  Prior to the April 
guidelines, the GOB would delay culling and containment measures until 
confirmation of the rapid antigen test results of the H5 virus was 
received from BangladeshQs national reference laboratory.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶5. The samples taken on September 29 were sent to the Bangladesh 
National Reference Lab for AI (BLRI) to determine if the Influenza A 
virus detected was indeed H5. On October 7, authorities confirmed to 
USAID Bangladesh that H5 caused this outbreak. The N type determination 
will be made at a World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reference 
laboratory as this technology does not exist in Bangladesh.  GOB 
officials noted that the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday delayed confirmation of 
the H5 virus by their national reference laboratory. 
 
Background 
---------- 
 
¶6.  The GOB first officially reported Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza 
(HPAI) among poultry in Bangladesh in March 2007.  Since that time, 
outbreaks of HPAI (H5) in poultry have been reported or confirmed on 
288 farms in 47 of BangladeshQs 64 districts.  Seventy-five percent of 
these outbreaks occurred on commercial farms.  Officials confirmed one 
human HPAI case in March 2008; that person, a child, fully recovered. 
 
¶7.  In September 2007, about half of the countryQs poultry population 
existed on approximately 150,000 large and small commercial facilities, 
with the other half situated on small backyard farms.  Currently, more 
than half of BangladeshQs small farms have ceased poultry production, 
as a result of both the negative impact of HPAI on consumer confidence 
 
DHAKA 00001061  002 OF 002 
 
 
and the ripple effect in the supply chain as larger commercial holdings 
affected by AI shut down and were unable to re-enter the industry.  As 
more than five million Bangladeshis are involved directly or indirectly 
in the poultry industry, HPAI is not only a health concern, but an 
economic concern as well. 
 
Timing of Outbreaks 
------------------- 
 
¶8.  Historically, most of the HPAI outbreaks in Bangladesh have 
occurred during between January and May.  Many different factors 
contribute to this apparent trend: 
 
--the possibility of more virus circulating in the environment at that 
time, 
--increased activity and trading in the industry during this period, or 
--migratory birds may be re-introducing the virus. 
 
¶9.  Though the majority of outbreaks in Bangladesh have occurred 
between January and May; outbreaks also were reported in September, 
November and December 2007. Currently, it is impossible to determine 
whether there are fewer outbreaks during different periods, or whether 
there is simply low or no reporting of outbreaks outside the January to 
May timeframe.  Reduced reporting of outbreaks could be attributed to a 
lack of awareness of AI in the absence of heavy media reporting on AI, 
waning interest, competing priorities, or a gap in surveillance because 
existing systems may not be able to detect isolated outbreaks.  USAID, 
GOB and the United NationsQ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) 
currently are discussing ways of investigating the apparent seasonality 
of AI outbreaks in Bangladesh. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶10.  Vietnam, Pakistan, and Laos have also reported outbreaks in 
September 2008, illustrating that the virus continues to circulate in 
other parts of Asia, as well as in Bangladesh.  Some in Bangladesh had 
hoped that since there had not been a confirmed AI outbreak here for 
several months, the country might be AI-free.  This most recent 
outbreak indicates that avian influenza continues circulate in 
Bangladesh. 
 
MORIARTY