SUDAN - AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE 12

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002696 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 ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU NSC FOR PMARCHAM, MMAGAN, TSHORTLEY USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI KAWC SU KFLU SUBJECT: SUDAN - AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE 12 REF: A) KHARTOUM 2203, B) KHARTOUM 2283 KHARTOUM 00002696 001.2 OF 002 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. On November 5, 2006, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) convened a Technical Task Force (TTF) meeting on Avian Influenza (AI). FAO and the Government of National Unity's (GNU) Federal Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries (FMARF) are to finalize, in coordination with all stakeholders, the nomination of the permanent members for the Rapid Response Team (RRT). The last H5N2 positive cases in Juba were reported on November 1, and since then no new cases have been reported. At this time, no new cases of AI have been reported in humans or poultry in any of the fifteen northern states. The FAO consultants who visited Juba during October drafted an action plan for Southern Sudan with specific objectives and activities to be implemented. At the November 5 meeting, the TTF reviewed the draft National Guidelines for Poultry Vaccination; the final version of the guidelines will be discussed at the November 19 TTF meeting. End Summary. -------------- Outbreak Update -------------- ¶2. On November 5, FAO convened the meeting for the Technical Task Force on AI in Khartoum. No cases were reported from any of the poultry farms in the northern states. The last H5N2 positive cases reported from Juba were on the November 1, and since then no new cases reported samples. At this time, no human cases of AI have been reported in the country. ¶3. In late August, the Ministry of Interior's Wildlife Administration collected blood samples from dead wild birds in White Nile State. To date, Wildlife Administration authorities have not released these samples for testing and analysis. At the November 5 meeting, the TTF tasked FMARF to continue making the necessary contacts with Wildlife Administration authorities to ensure the samples' release. In addition, FAO indicated willingness to make a contribution to cover expenses incurred by the Wildlife Administration if reasonable and necessary. -------------- National Guidelines for Poultry Vaccination -------------- ¶4. At the November 5 TTF meeting, the FMARF representative presented a draft of the National Guidelines for Poultry Vaccination. The guidelines establish procedures to be followed during outbreaks both in households' backyards and poultry farms. During outbreaks in households' backyards, localized culling, free poultry vaccination, and immediate compensation to the household are required. In poultry farms, poultry is to be culled in the infected zone and free vaccination to all poultry in the buffer zone is to be provided. The guidelines state that vaccination should not be carried out in non-infected states. During outbreaks, vaccines are to be provided free of charge to households and poultry farms that lose poultry and plan to restock. For broilers - chickens smaller than roasters - vaccination is optional and could be carried out at cost. However, new investors to the poultry industry should pay for vaccines. ¶5. The H5N2 vaccine used in Sudan since June 2006 is manufactured by Intervet Company. The vaccine is being used in East Asia, Egypt, Hong Kong, Italy, and the Netherlands. The vaccine reduces the shedding of the virus and protection occurs three weeks after vaccination. Three doses of the vaccine are needed per bird. According to the guidelines, a stock of vaccines equal to 30 percent of the poultry population should be available in the country. The FMARF should have control over national vaccination stocks and should provide the vaccination guidelines to states authorities, who are responsible for data collection on vaccination rates, mortalities, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, bio-security measures, and pre- and post-vaccination sero-surveillance results. This data should be reported regularly to the FMARF and decision makers. -------------- Coordination -------------- KHARTOUM 00002696 002.2 OF 002 ¶6. In coordination with all stakeholders, FAO and FMARF are to finalize the nomination of the permanent members of the RRT, which will include one representative each from the Federal and State ministries of agriculture and health, FMARF, FAO, UN World Health Organization (WHO),and Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL). 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. -------------- USG Contributions -------------- ¶7. The USG consultant seconded to FAO to assist with AI control activities returned from Juba after a two-week visit where he participated in training for veterinarians from different states of Southern Sudan. The consultant will assist in the establishment and training of the RRT. Another consultant is expected to arrive during the second week of November and participate in training of communities and poultry farm owners on community-based participatory surveillance as the most appropriate and cost effective strategy. -------------- Southern Sudan - Preparedness -------------- ¶8. The FAO consultants who visited Juba drafted an action plan for Southern Sudan. The plan's objectives is to combat and control the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI),prevent the introduction Q HPAI into disease-free areas, eradicate HPAI, and declare Southern Sudan free of AI. Detailed activities necessary to attain these objectives are outlined in the action plan. The consultants suggested that more coordination between the FMARF and the Government of Southern Sudan will be required. HUME