SUDAN - AVIAN FLU UPDATE 10 - AUGUST 14

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001925 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 GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NAIROBI FOR SFO NSC FOR JBRAUSE, NSC/AFRICA FOR TSHORTLEY USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI KFLU SU SUBJECT: SUDAN - AVIAN FLU UPDATE 10 - AUGUST 14 KHARTOUM 00001925 001.2 OF 002 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. On August 2, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) convened a Technical Task Force (TTF) meeting on Avian Influenza (AI). At this time, there were no new cases of AI reported in humans in Sudan. The last AI outbreak in poultry was on July 6, and since then, there have been no cases of AI reported in any states. The Sudan Strategy and Plan of Action, which was prepared by the Federal Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries (FMARF),was distributed to donors on July 30. A pre-vaccination serological survey was carried out by the Khartoum State Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the FMARF and the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL),and vaccinations have begun. A Rapid Response Team (RRT) including representatives from Federal and State ministries, FAO, the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO), CVRL, and the Central Health Laboratories will be formed, and terms of reference (TOR) will be written for the team. The committee formed by the FMARF to study issues related to the compensation of poultry farmers estimated that USD 10 million is needed in funds to compensate farmers, and the committee recommends 100 percent compensation. End summary. -------------- Status of AI in Sudan -------------- ¶2. On August 2, FAO convened a meeting for the TTF on AI in Khartoum. Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF),Khartoum State, and the State Ministry of Health (MOH) were absent at this meeting. The last outbreak of AI in poultry was reported on July 6, and since then, there have been no cases of AI reported in any states. The TTF stressed that although there are currently no outbreaks, the virus may still be present. The TTF noted that high temperatures may explain the reduction in cases of the disease, and additional outbreaks may be expected especially when temperatures decrease. The TTF stated that a thorough investigation is needed to determine where the virus is present when there are no outbreaks and how it spreads. WHO will conduct awareness training on AI that will target the international community working in Sudan. ¶3. Pre-vaccination samples (sera and swabs) were collected from breeder farms by the Khartoum State Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the FMARF and the CVRL. These samples were then tested at the CVRL, and 2 of 70 sera samples collected from one of the breeder farms tested positive for AI A. The samples were re-tested, and the serotype was found to be low pathogenic AI. The samples will be sent to Weybridge, a reference laboratory in the United Kingdom, for confirmation. The CVRL only has resources to conduct pre-vaccination surveys. The CVRL will coordinate with state ministries to obtain the necessary data for the layer farms to plan for sampling and collection of specimens. ¶4. The final version of the Sudan Strategy and Plan of Action was prepared by the FMARF and distributed to donors on July 30. A committee was formed by the Federal Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries to study the economic impact of the disease, restructuring the poultry industry, and compensation to farmers. The committee recommended 100 percent compensation for farmers who have lost poultry, but the Sudanese government has only approved 40 percent compensation and exempting farmers from taxes for 6 months. -------------- Coordination -------------- ¶5. The TTF has weekly meetings, but the representatives from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance have not attended these meetings. FAO was assigned to contact members who are not attending weekly meetings to ensure their participation in the future. ¶6. A RRT will be formed with representatives from FAO, WHO, State Ministry of Agriculture (SMOA),State Ministry of Health (SMOH), FMARF, and CVRL. Each agency will nominate one person who will be a permanent member of the team, and each member will be financially supported by his/her agency. The main function of the RRT will be to ensure active surveillance and guarantee that proper control measures are promptly carried out when an outbreak is reported. The TOR for the RRT will be prepared by FAO and will be discussed and approved by the TTF. KHARTOUM 00001925 002.2 OF 002 -------------- -------------- Contributions Toward Sudan Strategy and Plan of Action -------------- -------------- ¶7. According to the USAID/Sudan Health Specialist, FAO has allocated USD 250,000 for the AI program in Sudan. USAID and UNDP have also provided USD 200,000 and USD 150,000, respectively, for AI control activities in Sudan. An FAO consultant is in Sudan and held a two-day workshop attended by representatives from the Federal and State Ministries of Animal Resources and Fisheries, Federal and State Ministries of Health, Poultry Chamber, and FAO. The objectives of the workshop were to review the status of the AI epidemic worldwide, focusing specifically on Sudan and neighboring countries. The workshop also aimed to study the Sudan Strategy and Plan of Action and provide recommendations to combat AI in Sudan. HUME