CHAD: PREPARING FOR THE AI INEVITABLE

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000339

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICAWATCHERS;ROME FOR USMISSION

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAID AMED EAGR CD
SUBJECT: CHAD: PREPARING FOR THE AI INEVITABLE


1. Summary. With Avian Influenza (AI) confirmed in
neighboring Nigeria and Niger, we believe that it is only a
matter of time before AI is found in Chad. We are fortunate
that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
representative in N'djamana is able and engaged. However
Chad lacks the resources - human or material -- to provide
effective surveillance, to test suspected poultry, to
vaccinate, to cull affected animals, or to reimburse poultry
owners. FAO provided Misoffs with a modest shopping list of
immediate short term needs. End summary.


2. With Avian Influenza (AI) confirmed in neighboring
Nigeria and Niger, we believe that it is only a matter of
time before AI is found in Chad. We are fortunate that the
UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in
N'djamana is able and engaged. However, as reported earlier,
Chad lacks the resources - human or material -- to provide
effective surveillance, to test suspected poultry, to cull
affected animals, to vaccinate or to reimburse poultry
owners. FAO Rep Diallo reported to Misoffs on February 28
that he will strongly encourage the government to meet with
donors on Monday, March 6 to provide information on existing
capacity and outline needs for surveillance and vaccination.
However, he acknowledged that the government is poorly
organized to conduct the kind of transparent and efficient
crisis management which the situation requires -- and which
donors need in order to program funds effectively. One of
the few elements of the campaign that the Government might be
expected to handle -- public information -- apparently will
require a consultant (which UNICEF has offered to provide) to
ensure that the media message is correctly delivered. On the
positive side, Chad has never developed large-scale poultry
farming and the scope of potential infection is significantly
less than that in neighboring countries.


3. For the time being, the semi-privatized Veterinary
Laboratory on the outskirts of N'djamena has been supplied by
FAO with materials for taking samples, and has sent some
already to Rome for analysis; they have materials for another
1,000 tests. However, Diallo reported that a recent visit to
the Lake Chad area with the Minister of Elevage revealed an
almost complete absence of veterinary surveillance. FAO has
agreed to provide training for Chad's 154 veterinary agents
on surveillance and sample-taking and an expert is expected
shortly. Nonetheless, Diallo cautioned that these agents
could not be expected to do their work without protective
gear or sample equipment. To assist with transportation, FAO
will provide four vehicles which were used during the locust
campaigns.


4. Looking at urgent near term needs, FAO Rep Diallo
provided Misoffs with a list of needs for surveillance,
testing and vaccination. Precise pricing information is
being obtained, but he estimated that USD 50,000 would cover
the required materials. No donor has offered to fund these
supplies. Most of the materials are available in the local
markets, or in neighboring countries and could be accessed
within two weeks.

Available locally:
Syringes (5,000)
Needles (5,000)
Disposable gloves (2,500)
Masks (2,500)
Disinfectant (20 litres)

Available in Cameroon

Various materials for preparing samples (e.g., dissecting
kits, swabs, scalpels, tweezers etc) (sufficient for 5,000
specimens)

To be imported:

Tests for Newcastle disease (5,000)
Tests for Influenza (5,000) (Note: cannot distinguish
between H5N1 but per FAO allows to triage)
AI vaccine (5,000)
Newcastle vaccine (5,000)
WALL