Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM687
2006-03-18 06:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

SUDAN AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - STILL NO CASES

Tags:  EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI KAWC SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKH #0687 0770646
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 180646Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1921
UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000687 

SIPDIS

AIDAC
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI KAWC SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - STILL NO CASES
REPORTED

REF: Khartoum 1777

-------------------
Summary and Comment
-------------------

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000687

SIPDIS

AIDAC
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI KAWC SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE - STILL NO CASES
REPORTED

REF: Khartoum 1777

--------------
Summary and Comment
--------------


1. Despite the spread of the avian influenza virus to
some African countries, including neighboring Egypt, no
cases of avian influenza have been reported in birds or
humans in Sudan. The Government of National Unity's
(GNU) preparations to date have mainly consisted of the
formation of committees, the development of plans, and
the discussion of proposed budgets, with little action
taken to fund plans to raise awareness and detection
capabilities. The lack of funds for plan implementation
has prevented the GNU from carrying out meaningful
awareness, prevention, and control measures. End summary
and comment.

--------------
GNU Plans
--------------


2. As a preventive measure, the GNU has banned the
importation of birds and poultry products. In addition,
the GNU has developed a plan to raise awareness and
prepare for a possible outbreak; however, it has not
allocated any funding to support the plan. In October
2005, the GNU formed a national committee headed by the
Under Secretary of the Ministry of Animal Wealth (MOAW),
with representatives from the Ministry of Health (MOH),
the private sector, and other institutions participating.
A task force prepared a national plan with the objectives
of raising awareness, providing correct information about
the disease and potential hazards related to it,
developing a surveillance system to ensure early
detection of the disease, and building the capacity of
the local laboratories to be able to diagnose the
disease.


3. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is
the lead U.N. agency for the avian influenza control
efforts in Sudan. FAO, in collaboration with WHO and the
concerned ministries, reviewed the MOAW plan, which has
an estimated budget of USD 10,626,000. Although the
Ministry of Finance approved the budget the task force
submitted, no money was made available for implementation
of the plan.


4. The MOH has formed a consultative technical committee
to prepare plans for disease control, coordinate with
other institutions and organizations, and report on the
status of the avian flu in the country. On March 8, the
committee held the first of its bi-weekly meetings. A
draft plan was presented with a budget to address the
surveillance, case management and laboratory
requirements. The Directorate of Preventive Medicine and
Epidemiology has prepared a booklet that provides basic
information about the disease and the preventive methods.


5. USAID continues to monitor the situation regularly
and will provide periodic updates.

HUME