KENYA AVIAN INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 000950

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU SENV ECON EAGR EAID PREL PGOV KE
SUBJECT: KENYA AVIAN INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS UPDATE

REF: A. 05 NAIROBI 4829 (NOTAL)


B. 05 NAIROBI 5318 (NOTAL)


1. Summary: To date, Kenya has no confirmed cases of
H5N1 Avian Influenza, but suspect samples from flamingos,
as well as poultry samples from Uganda, are being
analyzed by CDC-Kenya. Kenya does have a valuable
interagency AI Task Force, and a cadre of well-trained
technical officials who should respond well to possible
AI outbreaks. U.S. agencies in country, CDC, US Army
Medical Research Unit - Kenya, and USAID, provide
guidance and assistance to both the task force and
technical agencies. Kenya's preparedness plan addresses
most critical needs, but high-level political support for
both funding and response is lacking. Also of concern
are reports that commercial airlines are refusing to
transport possible virus samples for testing. End
Summary.


2. This report updates ref A information on Kenya's
preparedness to respond to any possible outbreak of Avian
Influenza. To date there has been no confirmed case of
H5N1 virus in Kenya. CDC-Kenya is currently testing
samples from a small die-off of wild flamingos and is
also testing samples from dead chickens from farms in
Uganda near the Kenyan border.

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The National Avian Influenza Task Force
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3. The Kenyan government has taken some positive steps
in preparing for the possibility of an Avian Influenza
(AI) outbreak in the country. Kenya's National Avian
Influenza Task Force (NAITF) was established in October

2005. It met for the first time on 26 October and has
met 8 times since then. The composition of the NAITF is
inclusive of relevant ministries and has the active
participation of GOK technical experts. It is co-chaired
by the Director of Medical Services (senior technical
officer in Ministry of Health),the Director of
Veterinary Services (similar in Ministry of Livestock and
Fisheries Development),and the Director of the National
Operations Center (Office of the President). The Task
Force includes representation from other GOK ministries,
international organizations, research groups, civil
society, and the private sector. Mission representatives
from CDC, DOD, and USAID regularly attend these meetings.


4. The NAITF has established six sub-committees:
surveillance and epidemiology; communications and
awareness; laboratory and research; infection prevention
and control; case management; and coordination and
resource mobilization. All committees meet regularly and
report to the Task Force

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Kenya's Preparedness Plan
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5. The NAITF has completed a National Strategic
Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for Avian
Influenza (EPP). This includes goals and objectives of
each component represented by the various subcommittees
and fairly detailed short-term (6-month) workplans and
budgets. The Task Force is also working on medium-term
(6 months to 2 years) and long-term (2-5 year) plans and
budgets. The plan was presented in Beijing at the
January World Bank Pledging Conference on Avian and Human
Pandemic Influenza and was identified by the World Bank
as a model for Africa. We are encouraging the GOK to
create a public website with its AI preparations and
other information, and to post their plan.

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Budgeting for AI
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6. Kenya's Task Force has drafted a number of budgets,
both long and short term. The long-term budget presented
in Beijing was for $800 million, but included a worst-
case human epidemic requiring massive treatment costs.
The medium-term (about one year) budget presented on 23
February 2006 is for about Ksh 250 million (about $3.5
million). A draft Cabinet memo identifies Ksh 39 million
from the Ministry of Health budget and Ksh 35 million
from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development
budget that are available immediately. While there is
still discussion concerning specific budget lines this
overall amount is probably appropriate.


7. The draft budget outlines funding from the following

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sources:

-- The GOK (MOH and MOLFD) has already reprogrammed about
$1.1 million into avian influenza (see above);

-- USAID/Kenya will have about $850,000 in FY06 funds.
About $100,000 are available now, the rest should arrive
by July;

-- USAID/REDSO has additional funds for regional
activities, several of which will be based in Kenya;

-- additional funds are anticipated from CDC for regional
activities, several of which may be based in Kenya;

-- The World Bank will allow reprogramming of existing
project funds and should have additional funds pending
Board approval and a lifting of the freeze on Kenyan
funding;

-- The EU is including Kenya in a multi-country request;

-- WHO may get funds from various donors pledged in
Beijing;

-- FAO has requested funding from its donors;

-- The Kenyan Red Cross has contributed Ksh 1 million
($14,000).

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Current Readiness
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8. In many respects, Kenya is quite prepared to deal
with the immediate response needs to news of a possible
AI outbreak. Among the country's strengths:

-- a strong level of understanding and commitment from
technical officials at key ministries and agencies;

-- good experience in dealing with animal diseases, and
significant numbers of veterinary staff currently in the
field, including almost 400 Veterinary Officers;

-- the likelihood of early disease detection, in part due
to an early start awareness creation activities,
especially in agriculture. There have also been wider
public education campaigns, including the publication of
public call-in hotlines;

-- the pre-positioning of staff and equipment for a quick
response, including appropriate sampling, to bird die-
offs; and

-- a current ban on the importation of poultry and other
birds.


9. Kenya does have a number of remaining weaknesses in
its AI preparations, which need to be addressed quickly.
These include:

-- a clear commitment to making AI a policy priority at
Minister level and above;

-- the creation of detailed implementation plans in case
of a serious outbreak, including undertaking simulation
exercises;

-- establishing a compensation policy and fund;

-- verifying effective animal quarantine measures; and

-- (while beyond the mandate of the Task Force),an
action plan to deal with the economic and nutritional
impact of an epidemic.

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USG Resources
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10. This mission has an interagency task force that
meets on a regular basis. Thanks to the presence in
Kenya of CDC, US Army Medical Research Unit - Kenya, and
medical professionals at USAID's Office of Population and
Health, the USG contribution to the NAITF is substantial.
CDC/Kenya staff has traveled to Nigeria to help with that
country's response to the AI outbreak and will be able to
provide valuable insight to both the GOK and the Mission
on developing an effective action plan. We will modify
our tripwires (Ref B) accordingly.

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11. CDC/Kenya also hosts one of the most sophisticated
testing laboratories in Africa (Biosafety level 3),and
has offered its services to other African countries that
might need assistance in testing samples from possible AI
outbreaks. Over the years, CDC/Kenya's work with
technical staff from a number of Kenyan ministries has
also helped create a valuable cadre of health care
professionals and technicians who we expect will provide
an effective response to an AI outbreak.


12. Post's public affairs section is preparing our
public website to include a page dedicated to useful
information about AI, including hopefully a link to the
GOK's preparedness plan. Our Consular Affairs office is
prepared to issue an appropriate warden message should
H5N1 be confirmed in the country.

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Are the Airlines on Board?
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13. We have heard that Kenya Airways is reluctant to
transport samples from other African countries to Nairobi
for testing at CDC and/or GOK labs. It was also reported
that British Airways and Emirates have also been
reluctant to transport samples. It is important to
impress upon international airlines that if samples are
packaged and labeled according to IATA regulations they
have an obligation to transport these, as well as a moral
duty to help control this epidemic. It is clear that
Kenya Airways, and likely other air carriers as well,
have not thought about their role/responsibility in
dealing with possible disease emergence, not to mention
how they will respond to human cases.

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COMMENT
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14. Post is well prepared to deal with possible AI
contingencies, and at the technical level, Kenyan
agencies should respond well. However, it is difficult
to say how the highest levels of government will respond
to a new crisis, should H5N1 land in Kenya. The Kibaki
administration is in disarray and is facing tremendous
pressure from on-going corruption-related investigations.
One role we have taken on is to encourage additional
support from donors, who, to date, have not been engaged.
We will continue to work with the highest-ranking,
responsive, officials to encourage critical thinking and
planning appropriate for the necessary disaster
management mentality.

BELLAMY