CONFIRMED HUMAN CASE OF AVIAN

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000564 SIPDIS SIPDIS CA/OCS/ACS/EAP FOR ELIZABETH RYAN AF/EX FOR VIRGINIA MILHOUS NAIROBI FOR REDSO C DAVIS SANAA FOR RMO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMED CASC TBIO KFLU EAID AMED EAGR SUBJECT: CONFIRMED HUMAN CASE OF AVIAN INFLUENZA ¶1. Post EAC met to discuss the Djibouti's first confirmed human case of Avian Influenza (H5N1). ¶2. Background: An 8-year old girl in Damerjog, a village 25 km south of the capital, was tested on April 26 after arriving at the local health clinic with flu-like symptoms. The test sample was sent to Cairo and confirmed as H5N1 by the U.S. Navy Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-3). A subsequent inspection of the child's home, conducted today (May 11),found that three siblings were also exhibiting signs of flu. Samples were drawn from the siblings and a sick chicken belonging to the family. The samples will be sent to NAMRU-3 in Cairo for testing. The girl and her siblings are currently being treated at a local hospital. ¶3. GOD Response: The Minister of Health has been given the authority by the President to speak on behalf of the government. Later this evening, the Minister of Health will announce the findings and provide guidance to the public via broadcast media and print. The MOH is working closely with WHO the lead UN agency on Avian Influenza. USAID and US military (at Camp Lemonier) have provided all required support to prepare and test the child, her 3 siblings and the bird suspected of having Avian Influenza. Further support will be provided through public information distributed via radio and TV as programming is developed. ¶4. Post Action: will provide additional information regarding post actions as well as GOD actions in subsequent telegrams. ¶5. Please note that the workweek for U.S. Embassy Djibouti is Sunday Thursday. The Duty Officer is available at (253) 87 72 29 or through the embassy main number at (253) 35 39 95. SCHULMAN