CHAD: MOVING SLOWLY ON AI PREPAREDNESS

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001753 SIPDIS ROME FOR FODAG ACCRA FOR WARP/COONEY AND BROWDER OES FOR FOR SINGER AND DALEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TBIO ECON EAGR CD SUBJECT: CHAD: MOVING SLOWLY ON AI PREPAREDNESS Ref: A) N'djamena 1561; B) SecState 209622 ¶1. Summary: Chad is slowly gearing up to official recognition of the threat of avian influenza. The government has prohibited the entry of live poultry into areas at risk and strengthened the government's existing veterinary surveillance system. Wild birds are expected in the Lake Chad area from December through February. A more detailed national plan will be developed with FAO Technical Assistance. End summary. ¶2. This cable updates information provided in reftel (A) concerning the state of preparedness in Chad. Government of Chad (GOC) authorities, headed by the Ministry of Livestock, met October 25, 2005 to discuss measures to be taken to prevent introduction of infected poultry into Chad and to strengthen surveillance of wild birds. As a result of the meeting, the government issued a decree to prohibit the entry of live poultry into the zones at risk and reinforce the surveillance network currently in place and the capacity of the veterinary laboratory. While the country reportedly has a reasonable veterinary network (cordon sanitaire) in the east to assist in monitoring of livestock diseases from Sudan, western Chad (where migrating wild bird are expected between December - February) does not have similar infrastructure. Similarly, due to porous borders, it is unlikely that the government will be able to effectively enforce the ban on live imports. ¶3. A FAO-funded technical adviser is expected in December to develop a more comprehensive national plan. FAO representative Mamadou Diallo reported to EmbOffs November 21 that FAO is funding a regional project for West Africa (including Cameroon and Chad) which will provide for support for veterinary services and preventative measures. Funded at USD 400,000, there is very little to go around from country to country, and FAO rep acknowledged the need for much greater financial assistance for specific national plans. FAO Rep also reported that the participation of the Ministry of Health is still lagging in the inter-agency effort and the Ministry of Livestock and the National Veterinary Laboratory are the focal points for GOC action at this time. ¶4. DCM met with the Minister of Livestock, Mahamat Allamine Bourma Treye, December 7, to discuss Chad's state of preparedness. The Minister stressed Chad's vulnerability as a major host to migratory birds and emphasized that Chad lacked the means to effectively monitor and test any suspected cases. He pointed out that, in the case of an outbreak of avian flu, Chad's 24 million domestic poultry would be at risk with implications for the livelihoods of the many small farmers that keep poultry. ¶5. Comment: We anticipate that the FAO-assisted national plan will be circulated to donors as a basis for funding specific national needs. End comment. Wall NNNN