SENEGAL: MARCH 15 AVIAN FLU UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 000664

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR OES, AF/EPS, MED AND AF/W
AID/W FOR AFR/WA

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC EAID AMED EAGR SG
SUBJECT: SENEGAL: MARCH 15 AVIAN FLU UPDATE

REF: A. DAKAR 0460


B. DAKAR 0459


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Between March 7 and 10, USAID/Senegal
Health Officers visited the primary sites where migratory
birds are found. They found Ministry of Livestock
officials well informed about avian influenza, but health
officials were less knowledgeable and less prepared.
Although a national coordination mechanism is in place,
many questions about how Senegal would address an AI
outbreak remain unanswered. USAID is now examining plans
to strengthen command and control functions, enhance
health workers' knowledge, assess the density of poultry
populations, procure protective equipment, and develop
compensation and culling plans, should those become
necessary. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) In response to the heightened awareness and
concern about avian influenza (AI) in Africa, and
subsequent to outbreaks in at least four African
countries, members of the USAID/Senegal health office
traveled on March 7-10 to areas of Senegal where large
migratory and indigenous bird populations are found. The
sites included Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary and Langue
de Barbarie National Park, both in the St. Louis region
near the Mauritanian border; the Sine Saloum Delta and
Guerero/Sonome Park near Popenguine.


3. (SBU) The USAID health officers met with officials at
the regional and district levels from both livestock and
health departments. In general, the livestock officials
were well informed about AI and largely prepared to
respond effectively should an outbreak occur.
Surveillance activities were initiated in November 2005
and were supplemented in the week preceding our visit by
the collection of 900 samples from 160 bird species for
testing. The sample collection and testing was supported
by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). There are
two laboratories in Senegal that are equipped and trained
to test for avian flu. The local institutions, park
supervisors and livestock officials were using materials
from their general budget to support the new, intensified
surveillance and communication activities. There is an
expressed need at these local levels for PPE, containers
for samples and particularly for fuel for the boats that
are the main vehicles used in monitoring the bird
populations. The regional inspector for livestock in St.
Louis was especially proactive and provided us with a copy
of a presentation he had delivered to all district and
regional personnel on avian flu, based on scientific
information drawn from FAO, WHO and other sources, as well
as Senegal specific concerns. Information is reportedly
being disseminated to villages and local communities,
which are also implicated in the surveillance process and
used as sources of unpaid volunteers. However, the
response is hampered by constraints; the Director of the
National Park of Delta du Saloum initiated surveillance
and communication activities through the local voluntary
environment guardians, but he has no functioning boat to
supervise implementation of effective surveillance in the
islands in the Delta.


4. (SBU) Health officials were notably less informed and
prepared. Nurses and health workers in the health posts
located in or near the major parks and bird sanctuaries
had received no official information or directives from
the Ministry of Health (MOH),and cited radio and media as
their sole sources of information. The USAID team
distributed to all information about AI in French, and
will meet with MOH officials in Dakar to stress the
urgency of communications with health care workers on the
issue of AI.


5. (SBU) Park officials noted that the populations of
migratory birds who arrive in Senegal from Europe will
return within the next few weeks. They also noted,
however, that many bird species from Senegal's parks
migrate within Africa and some to countries, such as Niger
and Cameroon, with confirmed AI cases. The Director of

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Djoudj National Bird Park also indicated that since
Senegal's recent importation ban on poultry was
instigated, there has been an increase in small-scale
smuggling of chicken parts across the river from
Mauritania. This contraband activity is uncontrolled by
any inspection or commercial service, and has apparently
dramatically increased in recent weeks along with the
price of chicken. Such unintended consequences may call
into question the wisdom and impact of the importation
ban.

COMMENT
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6. (SBU) Many questions about how Senegal would deal with
an immediate outbreak remain unanswered. While a national
coordinating committee has been established under the
chairmanship of the Minister of Livestock, and information
from this committee has been successfully disseminated to
regional and district levels, it is not clear how in
practical terms, Senegal would deal with an outbreak --
who would lead the effort and what the action plan would
be. In particular, the most likely trajectory of an
outbreak is not known, and there do not appear to be in
place policies related to culling and compensation of
farmers for affected livestock. While communications
about AI have been disseminated to regional and district
livestock officials and park managers, it is not clear to
what extent local communities have been informed. Drawing
on lessons learned from the locust response, USAID will
expedite funding to local radio stations and monitor to
ensure that these messages are received and understood.
Other media may be needed in addition to local meetings
with locally elected officials, village chiefs and "sous-
prefets." Clearly, communication from health officials
needs to be improved. Basic commodities such as PPE, fuel
for monitoring trips and support for community volunteers
involved in surveillance are also needed.


7. (SBU) USAID/Senegal plans to take the following
actions, once approved AI funding is confirmed: assist the
MOH to communicate with health workers; add information
about AI to our community health worker network to
disseminate correct information at the local level; assess
the density of chicken populations; procure protective
equipment; strengthen command and control functions and
develop a compensation policy and subsequent plan for
culled birds. In addition, USAID will discuss with the
GOS the current policy of restricting poultry imports and
assess whether this policy creates incentives for
contraband, and if testing and monitoring of imported
birds and poultry might be a better policy.


8. (SBU) Senegal has been proactive in addressing AI in
the region, chairing from February 22-23 a ministerial-
level meeting of ECOWAS members in Dakar to harmonize
measures being taken against avian flu (Ref B). President
Wade has called for the establishment of a sub-regional
committee to curb the spread of the virus, and he raised
this issue with the Mauritanian Head of State during the
latter's visit. END COMMENT.

Jackson