AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK REPORTED IN BENIN

UNCLAS COTONOU 000932 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - (ADDED ADDRESSEE AND TAGS) SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W DBANKS AND G/AIAG MARGARET JONES USDA FOR FAS MICAH ROSENBLUM DAKAR FOR USDA/APHIS CHERYL FRENCH AND FAS ROBERT HANSON ROME FOR US MISSION ROME E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR TBIO KFLU BN SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK REPORTED IN BENIN ¶1. Summary: Roger Dovonou, Benin's Minister of Agriculture, confirmed late on the night of December 6, 2007 two independent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Benin. According to the Ministry of Agriculture one outbreak began in Adjarra in early November 2007 and the other occurred on December 4, 2007 at a commercial chicken raising facility in Cotonou. H5N1 has not been confirmed in either outbreak. FAO Crisis Management Center (CMC) mission is expected to arrive in Benin on December 9 to begin assisting the GOB with the response. End Summary. ¶2. According to the Ministry of Agriculture farmers in Honvie, a small village in the commune of Adjarra 10 km to the east of Porto Novo and near the border with Nigeria, noticed chickens beginning to die one by one in early November 2007. The farmers did not report these deaths to the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Service until December 4, 2007. The same day 67 chickens were reported dead at a commercial poultry raising facility in Cotonou. First line tests performed in Benin, using equipment provided by USDA/APHIS, confirmed the poultry from Cotonou and Honvie were positive for HPAI. At this time the GOB does not know which type of HPAI killed the poultry. The GOB has sent specimens from poultry collected at both sites to a laboratory in Padova, Italy on December 5, 2007 for confirmation of the serotype of the virus. Results are expected early next week. ¶3. Dovonou announced the outbreak at 11:00 PM (Cotonou time) on December 6, 2007. At that time he also gave the public more information on how it can protect itself from HPAI. President Yayi instructed all of his ministers to support the implementation of Benin's avian influenza action plan at a Council of Ministers' (Benin's version of the USG Cabinet) meeting on December 5. The GOB's National Avian Influenza preparedness committee is meeting on a regular basis to implement Benin's avian influenza action plan. ¶4. An FAO Crisis Management Center (CMC) mission is expected to arrive in Benin on December 9 with several objectives: to better define technical veterinary expertise, focus on outbreak communications and mobilize funds and liaise with donors. CMC completed a mission to Benin last month and recommended improving the country's response capability and immediate funding of US$50,900 toward a 3 month emergency action plan for HPAI control activities. BROWN