SUDAN - AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK, SITREP 3, MAY 1

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001025 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AF/EA, DCHA NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS USMISSION UN ROME GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NAIROBI FOR SFO NSC FOR JMELINE, TSHORTLEY USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI KAWC SU SUBJECT: SUDAN - AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK, SITREP 3, MAY 1 -------------- -------------- GNU Delays Analysis Needed to Confirm H5N1 Outbreak -------------- -------------- ¶1. (SBU) As previously reported, analysis of a human tissue sample conducted by U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit Number 3 (NAMRU-3) in Khartoum on April 22 found no evidence of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza. Despite NAMRU-3's sustained efforts to support the Government of National Unity's (GNU) Ministry of Animal Resources (MoAR),the Ministry continues to refuse to authorize testing of animal samples using NAMRU-3's Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine, currently located at the GNU Ministry of Health (MoH). USAID personnel do not believe that that the GNU would fail to authorize local testing of tissue samples if GNU ministries or local institutions had the capacity to perform laboratory analysis. USAID is working with the United Nations to raise this issue to the highest levels of government in Khartoum. ¶2. (U) Animal samples sent by the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) in Khartoum to the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) reference laboratory in Italy for confirmation of H5N1 avian influenza arrived in Rome on April 25. The samples are currently delayed in Italian customs with clearance expected on May 1 or 2. WHO/Khartoum anticipates receiving test results from the OIE lab by May 5. -------------- -------------- GNU Lacks Capacity to Respond to Avian Flu Outbreak -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) As the GNU refuses to approve local analysis of animal tissue samples, chickens continue to die in large numbers in poultry farms near Khartoum. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),avian influenza type H5 recently decimated the entire population of a local farm containing more than 9,000 chickens. State authorities in Khartoum and Gezira are implementing containment measures in a 3 to 5 kilometer (km) radius surrounding infected farms. However, FAO �A;believes the rapid response capacity of Khartoum and Gezira States is limited by transportation and communication shortfalls. ¶4. (U) Though an outbreak of the N1 strain of avian influenza has not yet been confirmed, local poultry producers are demanding a plan for government compensation for both the culling of poultry that has already taken place and for anticipated losses incurred as a result of the government's future attempts to contain the outbreak. Despite these demands, the GNU has made no promises of compensation. In a meeting with a small group of donors over a week ago, a representative of the MoAR declared the payment of compensation to farmers to be "un-Islamic." ¶5. (SBU) An FAO poultry expert arrived in Khartoum on April 25. She plans to visit a number of localities around Khartoum and Juba to conduct field assessments and educate local authorities during the duration of her time in Sudan. The FAO consultant's primary responsibilities include assessing diagnostic capabilities at facilities operated by Sudan's MoAR, inspecting farms affected by the avian influenza outbreak, and briefing government officials and technicians on the results of her assessments. On April 30, she met with USAID representatives to convey her initial impressions of GNU preparedness and response capacity to deal with the recent outbreak of avian influenza in Sudan. USAID has asked the FAO consultant to organize a meeting to inform donors of the results of her assessments and to provide a general overview of the response required to contain this outbreak. The meeting will be scheduled during the week of May 1. ¶6. (SBU) The FAO expert's initial impressions of Sudan's preparedness and response capacities are not encouraging. The GNU's MoAR and MoH are not coordinating well despite the existence of a National Task Force to guide the government's response. Given recent trends of widespread poultry deaths and the likelihood that the infecting strain is the N1 virus, the FAO expert is perplexed by the MoAR's refusal to authorize testing of animal samples at the MoH. On the positive side, authorities in Khartoum and Gezira States know how to initiate a response to the threat posed by avian influenza and are trying to contain the virus by culling poultry as best they can. State health authorities have improved local culling practices and now bury infected poultry on-site rather than transporting dead birds to sites outside infected areas. ¶7. (SBU) Note: Ms. Jagne, on assignment with FAO Khartoum until May 12, is a poultry disease specialist. Born in the Gambia, she is a naturalized American citizen who studied veterinary science at Cornell University and recently resigned from her job with ISA, a poultry company based in Ontario. She is a U.S.-based expert who has worked on many avian influenza outbreaks in the US and Canada. She is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and a welcome injection into the FAO team in Khartoum. It would be helpful if the USAID technical expert could arrive at post prior to her departure on May 12. End note. -------------- Update on USG Response -------------- ¶8. (U) The initial delivery of USAID-funded personal protective equipment (PPE) was delivered to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and transferred to the MoAR on April 26, 2006. An FAO poultry expert will work with the Ministry on the proper use and deployment of the PPE. An additional donation of 2000 sets of PPE is expected to arrive in Khartoum and Juba within the next 10 days. STEINFELD