VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNJ #0339 0601645
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011645Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3262
INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0960
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0264
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1191
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 2470
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1577
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0116
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0936
RUFGNOA/USEUCOM

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