HAITI: AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK IN HAITI

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000895

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR, INR/IAA/MAC,
EEB/IFD/OMA
EEB/IFD/ODF
STATE PASS TO AID FOR LAC/CAR
STATEPASS TO TREASURY FOR SARAH GRAY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFLU ECON EFIN EAID PGOV PREL HA DR
SUBJECT: HAITI: AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK IN HAITI

RE: PORT AU PRICE 00144

Summary
--------------


1. Acting Minister of Agriculture Joanas Gue announced June
11 that 11 positive cases representing four outbreaks of the
H5N2 avian influenza virus were identified in four areas of
Haiti. Gue attributed the cause of the outbreak in at least
one area to fighting cocks that originated in the Dominican
Republic. Ministry of Agriculture officials urged public
vigilance in connection with safety measures that might be
imposed. The import ban on poultry and poultry products from
the Dominican Republic will remain in force. Donors active
in the sector will meet with government representatives June
19 in order to discuss the outbreak and the effectiveness of
current control measures. End summary.

Government Reaction
--------------


2. Acting Minister of Agriculture Joanas Gue announced June
11 that 11 cases of H5N2 avian influenza had been discovered
in poultry in four locations in Haiti: the towns of Limonade
and Cap Haitien in the north, Miragoane in the south and
Cerca-la-Source in the central region. He said that the
cases in Cerca-la-Source had come from fighting cocks
imported from the Dominican Republic. Gue warned that more
drastic measures would be required to control the spread of
the H5N2 virus and while the H5N2 type is not harmful to
humans, there is concern it could mutate into the deadly H5N1
virus. If not contained, the virus could have a detrimental
effect on the country's health care system, Gue argued. He
encouraged the Haitian public to abide by all measures and
declared that the import ban on poultry products emanating
from the Dominican Republic (imposed in January - reftel)
would be maintained until further notice.


3. MoAg Animal Health Services Director Dr. Max Millien said
publicly June 13 that information on the outbreaks would be
communicated to Dominican authorities and added the country
desperately needs a quarantine system at the Haiti/Dominican
border, which he identified as the weak point in the control
chain.


4. Dr. Millien said the MoAg recently coordinated a meeting
of forty-seven MoAg and Ministry of Health technicians to
discuss emergency response measures, which he did not
identify. (Note: The National Steering Committee on Avian
Flu -- comprised of the MoAg, MoH, WHO, the Inter-American
Institute of Cooperation for Agriculture/IICA and USAID --
plans to meet June 19 to discuss the outbreak and follow up
on response efforts. End note.)

Donor Assistance
--------------


5. The World Bank and FAO currently fund an avian flu program
valued at USD 1.25 million (USD 1 million and USD 250,000
respectively from the World Bank and FAO). Project
components include public awareness, animal health, and
public health. Currently the World Bank is negotiating a USD
1.5 million emergency response and institutional capacity
building component to combat avian flu. The project would be
implemented by the Ministries of Agriculture and Health.


6. Haiti established an epidemiological surveillance system
to detect Avian Flu with USAID support one year ago. This
system likely assisted in the recent detection of the virus.

SANDERSON