Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM1395
2006-06-12 15:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

SUDAN - AVIAN FLU UPDATE 7 - June 12

Tags:  EAID PREF PGOV TBIO PHUM SOCI KAWC SU 
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VZCZCXRO5946
PP RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1395/01 1631558
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121558Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3192
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001395 

SIPDIS

AIDAC
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS
USMISSION UN ROME
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC FOR JBRAUSE, TSHORTLEY
USUN FOR TMALY
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV TBIO PHUM SOCI KAWC SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN - AVIAN FLU UPDATE 7 - June 12

REF: KHARTOUM 1228

-------
Summary
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001395

SIPDIS

AIDAC
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS
USMISSION UN ROME
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC FOR JBRAUSE, TSHORTLEY
USUN FOR TMALY
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV TBIO PHUM SOCI KAWC SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN - AVIAN FLU UPDATE 7 - June 12

REF: KHARTOUM 1228

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. On May 29, 2006, the U.N. Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) convened the third Technical Task
Force meeting on avian influenza (AI) in Khartoum, but
with poor attendance by key members. More than one week
had passed with no new cases of AI reported in Sudan.
Khartoum State has taken measures to prevent the spread
of AI to disease-free localities and has begun health
surveillance of poultry farm workers. Since April 9,
2006, poultry farms of varying sizes have been affected
and 800,000 chickens have been culled in Khartoum State.
Khartoum-based offices of FAO, the U.N. Children's Fund
(UNICEF),and the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO)
are preparing to present a joint proposal on actions
needed to mitigate and contain the AI outbreak in Sudan
to the international donor community in the coming week.
End summary.

--------------
AI Task Force Coordination
--------------


2. On May 29, FAO/Khartoum convened a meeting of the
Technical Task Force on AI. This task force is composed
of 11 member organizations representing various U.N.
agencies, Sudanese government ministries, Sudan's poultry
industry, and the international donor community. At the
previous meeting of the task force, per reftel, FAO had
agreed to contact task force members, particularly
representatives of the Ministry of Health (MOH),Ministry
of Finance (MOF),and UNICEF, to ensure full
participation in future meetings. The subsequent absence
of these organizations at the May 29 session had a
negative impact on the outcome of the meeting, as
information that could have been shared was not
available. Members again urged FAO to contact these
organizations.



3. The Task Force has formed a committee to address
issues related to the economic impact of AI on the
poultry industry in Sudan, such as compensation for
farmers. Task Force members present at the May 29
meeting discussed banning the importation of poultry
products and encouraging in-country breeding as ways to
mitigate the economic effects of AI.


4. The Task Force is also forming an operational unit
that will co-locate with the Ministry of Animal Resources
and Fisheries (MoAR) with support from FAO. The unit
will include veterinarians and a physician and will work
with guidance from a USAID/USDA consultant seconded to
FAO. This unit will continue work to establish an
effective national AI surveillance system in Sudan.


5. On June 12, a regional workshop on AI control and
prevention will take place in Nairobi. One candidate
from Sudan, representing the North, is confirmed to
participate. A request has been made for a second seat
to allow a candidate from the South to attend the
workshop. Task Force members agreed that additional
training for laboratory specialists should be provided in
Sudan so that more candidates can participate in
veterinary research.

--------------
Outbreak Update - Khartoum State
--------------


6. At the invitation of the Task Force, a Khartoum State
Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (KSMoAr)
representative attended the May 29 meeting. Khartoum
State began AI surveillance in October 2005. When some
farms reported high mortality rates, Khartoum State
initiated active control measures, including culling,
disinfection, and destruction of poultry products and
feeds before testing results were reported. Since April
9, when the first report of AI occurred, 200 poultry

KHARTOUM 00001395 002 OF 002


farms of varying sizes have been affected and 800,000
chickens culled in Khartoum State. More than one week
has passed with no new cases of AI reported.


7. In collaboration with the MoAR and the Federal
Veterinary Laboratory, the KSMoAR is planning a poultry
vaccination program. The initial phase of the
vaccination campaign will target 800,000 chickens, and
the entire campaign will ultimately vaccinate 3 million
chickens. Before and after the vaccinations, the KSMoAR
will test and monitor antibody levels. (Note: The time
frame for the program has not yet been specified, and a
committee has been formed to study and recommend an
implementation plan. In general, vaccination is not
recommended until three months after the last outbreak.
End note.)

--------------
Contributions
--------------


8. The revised FAO, UNICEF, and WHO proposal on actions
needed to mitigate and contain AI will likely be
presented to donors during the week of June 11. To date,
FAO has provided 600 kilograms of disinfectant and is
planning to provide 40 specimen transport kits. The
Government of National Unity (GNU) has provided 100
million Sudanese Dinars (SD) or approximately USD 455,000
to the MoAR for AI control activities, with 20 million SD
(USD 90,000) provided to Khartoum State and 15 million SD
(USD 68,000) to Gezira State.


9. USAID is providing USD 200,000 to FAO for
coordination, training, and the purchase of personal
protective equipment (PPE). Two thousand units of USAID-
donated PPE are currently en route to Sudan for
consignment to FAO.

HUME