SUDAN - AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK, Sitrep 2, April 19

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000945 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 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI KAWC SU SUBJECT: SUDAN - AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK, Sitrep 2, April 19 REF: Khartoum 2397 ¶1. (SBU) Sudanese and international press were full of articles in the last day regarding the possibility of H5N1 Avian flu virus in Sudan. Some press articles claimed that the virus had been confirmed. As of today, however, only the existence of H5 had been confirmed by special test kits brought from Jordan. A WHO team today confirmed that the human case of suspected avian flu H5N1 is negative. They will begin testing chickens on April ¶20. ¶2. A representative of the Ministry of Animal Health, WHO and FAO representatives briefed a select group of donors today on the latest developments. A sober and worried looking ministry representative explained that bird deaths began in March but were determined to be Newcastles and handled accordingly. Several tests revealed the presence of Strain A influenza, alerting authorities that the problem was more serious. The Government sent to Jordan for test kits to enable determination of the H5 virus. The test report was issued on April 17th. A paper highlighting three areas affected was distributed: (a) Faki Hashim in Khartoum North: Outbreak reported on April 1, 2006 with 27,000 birds affected amongst poultry holders. Tests were made on April 16 and results announced on April 17. All the animals died. Destruction of the animals took place over a period of 7 days by burning and burying. Limited use of protective clothing. (b) Soba West, Khartoum: A farm having 35,000 birds and known to import chicks from outside Sudan for breeding purpose. The outbreak was reported on April 13. 18,000 chickens died, while a further 17,000 were subsequently destroyed. The manner of destruction was rudimentary by burning and burying. Limited protective clothing was available. Between 15-20 people were involved in the culling. Masks appeared to have been the only protection used by some and the Ministry representative said that due to the heat, many of the workers would remove their masks. (c) Gezira, Gezira: Outbreak reported on March 25 resulting in the deaths of 1,400 out of a flock of 3,400. the remaining birds were not culled (details were not given). ¶3. The government reported that the bird farm areas have been closed off but admitted that populations living in the vicinity still move around the area freely. Most of the farms are small holder units raising between 1,000 to 50,000 birds each. There are an additional 6 large farms raising about 250,000 each. Many of Sudan's poultry raisers have imported chicks from Egypt and the Netherlands. ¶4. The government representative announced that a task force was in place, and a unit in the ministry of animal health is fully dedicated to monitoring the situation. The government had only 200 sets of PPE and was grateful to learn that the United States was sending in an additional 300 sets from Nairobi today. The UN does not believe that Government capacity is up to the task at this writing and from the briefing this appeared to be the case. Additional inputs as well as technical assistance will likely be required. The national task force, with support from the UN needs quickly to get a handle on the coordination of the effort so that resources offered by donors can be put to the best use. The government will likely address the donors at a special meeting on April 20.