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


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Summary
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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.

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Outbreak Update
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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.

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National Guidelines for Poultry Vaccination
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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.

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Coordination
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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.

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USG Contributions
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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.

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Southern Sudan - Preparedness
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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