SUDAN - AVIAN FLU UPDATE 7 - June 12

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