Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COTONOU948
2007-12-14 12:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:
AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK REPORTED IN BENIN
how-toVZCZCXRO3345 OO RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHCO #0948 3481239 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 141239Z DEC 07 ZDS FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0053 INFO RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0279 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 1282 RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1209 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1409 RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME DEPARTMENT OF HHS WASHDC
UNCLAS COTONOU 000948
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED ADDRESSEE)
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W DBANKS AND G/AIAG MJONES
DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID FOR MHARVEY, GGREER, GBERTOLIN, NSTUDZINSKI
AND JBORRAZZO
USDA FOR FAS MROSENBLUM
DAKAR FOR USDA/APHIS CFRENCH AND RCOLY AND FAS RHANSON
ROME FOR SPANOS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR TBIO KFLU BN
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK REPORTED IN BENIN
REF: (A) COTONOU 932 (B) Rosenblum/Brown Email 12/13/07
UNCLAS COTONOU 000948
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED ADDRESSEE)
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W DBANKS AND G/AIAG MJONES
DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID FOR MHARVEY, GGREER, GBERTOLIN, NSTUDZINSKI
AND JBORRAZZO
USDA FOR FAS MROSENBLUM
DAKAR FOR USDA/APHIS CFRENCH AND RCOLY AND FAS RHANSON
ROME FOR SPANOS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR TBIO KFLU BN
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK REPORTED IN BENIN
REF: (A) COTONOU 932 (B) Rosenblum/Brown Email 12/13/07
1. Summary: Test results on the poultry which died in Benin (Ref A)
indicate that the poultry was positive for H5 (Ref B). Testing is
continuing to determine if it is the H5N1 strain. The Government of
Benin, along with its counterparts from the FAO and WHO, is
currently developing a 6 month avian influenza (AI) containment
plan. There have been no new reports of mass deaths of poultry in
the past week (12/7 - 12/14) End Summary.
2. According to GOB officials, test results were delayed due to
transportation strikes in Italy which prevented the samples from
reaching the testing laboratory in Padova until December 12, 2007.
Testing on December 13 revealed that the poultry was positive for H5
(Ref B). The results of the neuraminidase testing which will
determine whether or not it is H5N1 are expected late in the day on
December 14.
3. The GOB, WHO, and the FAO have spent the past week developing a
6 month AI containment plan. They have agreed on a 1.7 million
dollar budget for the plan. As part of this effort the GOB will
request the USG provide 1,360 units of personal protective
equipment, 100 disinfection kits, 30 rapid diagnosis kits, reagents,
and materials for sample collection. USAID has already sent a
shipment of Poultry Rapid Antigen Test kits to Benin which is due to
arrive on December 18. USDA/APHIS has also offered support to
replenish the Ministry of Agriculture's testing laboratory's stock
of reagents needed to perform initial testing on dead poultry.
4. The GOB, in conjunction with UNICEF, FAO, and WHO, is drafting a
communications plan to be put in place if an H5N1 outbreak is
confirmed. The December 14 chief of missions' donors meeting will
concentrate on Benin's AI response.
BROWN
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED ADDRESSEE)
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W DBANKS AND G/AIAG MJONES
DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID FOR MHARVEY, GGREER, GBERTOLIN, NSTUDZINSKI
AND JBORRAZZO
USDA FOR FAS MROSENBLUM
DAKAR FOR USDA/APHIS CFRENCH AND RCOLY AND FAS RHANSON
ROME FOR SPANOS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR TBIO KFLU BN
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK REPORTED IN BENIN
REF: (A) COTONOU 932 (B) Rosenblum/Brown Email 12/13/07
1. Summary: Test results on the poultry which died in Benin (Ref A)
indicate that the poultry was positive for H5 (Ref B). Testing is
continuing to determine if it is the H5N1 strain. The Government of
Benin, along with its counterparts from the FAO and WHO, is
currently developing a 6 month avian influenza (AI) containment
plan. There have been no new reports of mass deaths of poultry in
the past week (12/7 - 12/14) End Summary.
2. According to GOB officials, test results were delayed due to
transportation strikes in Italy which prevented the samples from
reaching the testing laboratory in Padova until December 12, 2007.
Testing on December 13 revealed that the poultry was positive for H5
(Ref B). The results of the neuraminidase testing which will
determine whether or not it is H5N1 are expected late in the day on
December 14.
3. The GOB, WHO, and the FAO have spent the past week developing a
6 month AI containment plan. They have agreed on a 1.7 million
dollar budget for the plan. As part of this effort the GOB will
request the USG provide 1,360 units of personal protective
equipment, 100 disinfection kits, 30 rapid diagnosis kits, reagents,
and materials for sample collection. USAID has already sent a
shipment of Poultry Rapid Antigen Test kits to Benin which is due to
arrive on December 18. USDA/APHIS has also offered support to
replenish the Ministry of Agriculture's testing laboratory's stock
of reagents needed to perform initial testing on dead poultry.
4. The GOB, in conjunction with UNICEF, FAO, and WHO, is drafting a
communications plan to be put in place if an H5N1 outbreak is
confirmed. The December 14 chief of missions' donors meeting will
concentrate on Benin's AI response.
BROWN