VZCZCXYZ0008
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNM #0390/01 1111352
ZNR UUUUU ZZH CCY OLD ADXBEF8B8 MSI2982 612
R 211352Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2321
INFO RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0343
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 3299
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0279
RUEHCO/AMEMBASSY COTONOU 1025
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1743
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0106
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 1444
RUEHOU/AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 8510
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0432
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0215
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0226
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0264

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000390 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D COPY (CAPTION ADDED) 
 
LONDON AND PARIS PLEASE PASS TO AFRICA WATCHERS; 
ACCRA PLEASE PASS TO FELIX AWANTANG AND KRISTIN COONEY; 
OES PLEASE PASS TO NANCY POWELL; 
CA/OCS/ACS/AF PLEASE PASS TO STEVE DONLON AND FALASHADE 
ROBINSON; 
USDA FOR FAS/OA, FAS/DLP, FAS/ICD AND FAS/ITP; 
USDA ALSO FOR APHIS; 
ROME PLEASE PASS TO USMISSION TO FAO, USAID HARRIET SPANOS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KFLU EAID AMED EAGR TOPEC AIDAC AMGT
SENV, XA, NG 
SUBJECT: NIGER:  APRIL 21 AVIAN FLU UPDATE 
 
REF: A. A. NIAMEY 00292 
 
     ¶B. B. NIAMEY 00155 
     ¶C. C. NIAMEY 00184 
     ¶D. D. NIAMEY 00220 
     ¶E. E. NIAMEY 00245 
 
¶1.  BEGIN SUMMARY.  Niger has reported no new cases of avian 
influenza (AI) in many weeks.  Culling in the region of 
Magaria is complete according to the Government of Niger 
(GON).  Samples of bird tissue taken during this culling 
provided no new positive indications of bird flu outbreaks in 
Niger.  Samples taken from dead birds in the area of the town 
of Nguigmi in far Eastern Niger near Lake Chad, have been 
sent to Padua, Italy for further testing.  The Government of 
Niger (GON), international organizations and bilateral donors 
are continuing their efforts to control the bird flu outbreak 
in Niger.  The GON will be updating its national plan for 
controlling bird flu.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT GRANT TO INTERMINISTERIAL BIRD 
FLU COMMITTEE:  Econoff was told by Dr. Sambo, the President 
of the GON's Interministerial Committee on Avian Influenza, 
that a grant for the purchase of communications equipment for 
the use of the Committee had been received.  Embassy's 
Development Coordinator attended meeting of the Committee on 
Bird Flu where he was told that the Japanese government had 
provided $925,000 USD to UNICEF for the purchase of 
communications equipment for the Committee.  The Committee 
will receive approximately $835,000 USD worth of 
communication equipment due to the administrative charge of 
UNICEF. 
 
¶3.  CULLING IN MAGARIA AREA COMPLETE ACCORDING TO GON:  The 
GON, according to Dr. Sambo, has finished with its culling 
efforts in the Magaria region.  It is observing those who 
conducted the culling for signs they have contracted a human 
form of AI. 
 
¶4.  TRAINING CONTINUES:  Regional teams from the Ministry of 
Animal Health and Ministry of Health in the region of Zinder 
(Eastern Niger) received AI training.  Journalists in the 
area of the city of Maradi and the town of Diffa were trained 
approximately 2 weeks ago.  Presently, training is taking 
place in Niamey and Dosso for journalists on how to approach 
the subject of AI. 
 
¶5.  USAID FUNDING ON THE WAY TO HELP CONTROL AI IN THE TAHOUA 
REGION:  Post does not have formal confirmation but Dr. 
Amadou Saley, the Assistant Representative of the UN Food and 
Agriculture (FAO) Organization in Niamey told Econoff that he 
had received information that USAID funding had been granted 
to execute the plan for controlling AI in the Tahoua Region. 
Dr. Saley is awaiting confirmation of the funding from FAO 
headquarters in Italy.  Post contacted the US Mission to FAO 
and is awaiting confirmation from that office as to whether 
USAID funds have been transmitted to FAO for Niger. 
 
¶6.  MONEY FOR TAMIFLU IS AVAILABLE BUT NO PURCHASE YET: 
Econoff spoke with the Director General of the national 
pharmaceutical supply company (Office National des Produits 
Pharmaceutiques et Chimiques - ONPPC), Mrs. Sambo Mariama. 
Mrs. Mariama stated that she was aware that the French 
Cooperation Organization provided 5,000,000 CFA 
(approximately $9,300 USD) for the purchase of Tamiflu. 
Post's Development Coordinator understood from yesterday's 
Interministerial Bird Flu Committee meeting that in addition 
to the French, the World Health Organization (WHO) had 
offered 65,000,000 CFA (approximately $120,000 USD) for the 
purchase of Tamiflu.  According to Mrs. Sambo, ONPPC is 
presently drafting a letter urging Roche, the prospective 
supplier of Tamiflu for Niger, to fill their order more 
quickly than the previous offer of April 2007.  Mrs. Sambo 
 
perceives that Roche is treating ONPPC's request like that of 
any other retail customer and not like a request from a 
government in need.  Mrs. Sambo noted that although Niger has 
had no human cases of AI to date, if a case was identified, 
the GON would have not have the preferred means of treating 
the individual(s) affected:  Tamiflu. 
 
¶7.  THE ARRIVAL OF THE RAINY SEASON IS OF CONCERN:  Dr. Saley 
of FAO noted that the rainy season, which in recent years 
began in late April through mid-May, could create conditions 
for a rebirth of the AI outbreak in Niger. 
 
ALLEN