VZCZCXRO8644
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #1042/01 0991423
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091423Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5490
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 001042 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G/AIAG, AF/EX, AND DS/IP/AF 
USAID/W FOR AFR/SD, BGH/AI, AFR/ESA 
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ET KFLU TBIO AMED EAID EAGR SENV XW
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE FOR ETHIOPIA 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Post's inter-agency Avian Influenza Committee met 
March 29 to review the situation in Ethiopia with respect to a 
possible outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the 
country.  While HPAI has been confirmed in several states bordering 
Ethiopia (Sudan and Djibouti), there is no evidence of HPAI in 
Ethiopia.  Ethiopia remains at risk for HPAI, but risk of 
transmission may not be as high as originally stated, largely 
because Ethiopia has few large-scale poultry farms, and there is no 
cross-border movement of poultry into Ethiopia.  USAID, CDC, FAO, 
WHO, and DFID continue to work with the Ethiopian government to 
prepare for and respond to potential future AI outbreaks, through 
supporting surveillance, prevention, and training activities.  The 
GOE's recent revamping of its National Task Force for the Prevention 
and Control of Avian Influenza highlight that addressing other 
emerging zoonotic/epizootic diseases, such as Rift Valley Fever 
(which has occurred in neighboring Kenya and Somalia), may be a 
greater immediate concern for Ethiopian authorities.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) Emboffs, CDC, and USAID representatives reviewed the HPAI 
situation in Africa at Post's March 29 AI Committee meeting chaired 
by DCM.  USAID highlighted that HPAI has been confirmed in Sudan, 
Djibouti, Egypt and Nigeria.  While Ethiopia remains at risk for 
HPAI, risk of transmission may not be as high as originally stated, 
largely because Ethiopia has few large-scale poultry farms, and most 
families have only 6-12 chickens on their compounds.  Compounds in 
rural areas also tend to be widely dispersed with little 
inter-mixing of poultry from household to household.  Additionally, 
and perhaps most important, there is no cross-border movement of 
poultry into Ethiopia. 
 
---------------------------------- 
GOE CONDUCTING ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) The Ethiopian government, through assistance from FAO, is 
conducting active surveillance of farms (both household and poultry 
production) around the country, with a particular focus on border 
areas with Sudan and Djibouti.  In mid-March 2007, samples collected 
from a poultry disease outbreak in Ethiopia's western 
Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State were submitted to the National 
Animal Health Research Center (NAHRC).  Preliminary results indicate 
negative findings for HPAI, although replicate samples were sent to 
Weibridge, UK, for further analysis. 
 
¶4. (U) Surveillance teams from the FAO and the GOE's Ministry of 
Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD) are deployed throughout 
the country.  In March, a team from Dire Dawa Veterinary Laboratory 
conducted active AI disease surveillance by administrating 
structured questionnaires in Dire Dawa Provisional Administrative 
Council, Harari Region; and in Shinile and Erer districts, of the 
Somali Region.  The team visited 3 small-scale poultry farms and 
interviewed 84 farmers, none of whom reported observing any unusual 
mass die-offs or illnesses in either domestic or wild birds in the 
past 60 days.  The team also collected information about livestock 
populations, veterinary infrastructure, and manpower.  Surveillance 
teams are also briefing communities on AI risks and the need to 
report any bird diseases immediately to nearby agriculture offices 
or other designated authorities. 
 
¶5. (U) Ethiopia's National Task Force for the Prevention and Control 
of Avian and Human Influenza, was recently revamped to address other 
emerging zoonotic/epizootic diseases such as Rift Valley Fever 
(RVF), and is now called the Epizootic Control Coordinating 
Committee.  Because of the occurrence of RVF in neighboring Kenya 
and Somalia, Ethiopia is on the alert to prevent RVF and to minimize 
its impact in case of possible introduction.  Thus far, there are no 
indications that RVF has been found in Ethiopia.  A RVF contingency 
plan has been drafted and communication work is underway as part of 
the Government's effort to raise the level of public awareness to 
protect communities and livestock from this disease. 
 
------------------------------------- 
TRAINING AND COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGNS 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Communication campaigns addressing the prevention and 
management of AI are underway throughout Ethiopia.  Recently, in the 
Oromia Region, an estimated 393,000 people received basic avian 
influenza information over a one-week period.  Messages covered 52 
districts in nine zones of the region, and focused on students, 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00001042  002 OF 002 
 
 
farmers, animal and human health professionals, and educators.  Over 
300 Tigray residents received training recently, which will enable 
them to conduct communication campaigns throughout the region. 
Other communication campaigns are being conducted in the Southern 
Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR); 
Benishangul-Gumuz; and Somali regions.  To ensure responsible 
reporting on AI in Ethiopia, Embassy PAO sent a journalist from the 
Addis Ababa-based Amharic-language newspaper "Addis Admas" to a 
Voice of America training seminar on this subject, which took place 
in Nairobi the week of April 2. 
 
¶7. (U) In January 2007, training on poultry bio-security, culling 
and vaccination was conducted at the Jijiga Regional Veterinary 
Laboratory for 16 new animal health technicians (AHT) from the 
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Jijiga Campus), selected from 
different Somali Region districts.  Training included practical 
sessions on intra-muscular and subcutaneous vaccination techniques, 
as well as on culling and post-mortem procedures.  Trainees also 
received AI posters and brochures. 
 
------------------------------------- 
USAID AND CDC SUPPORT HEALTH MINISTRY 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) USAID support to WHO has targeted the prevention of a human 
outbreak of HPAI in Ethiopia.  WHO has been working with the 
Ministry of Health to train health workers on AI detection and case 
management.  WHO protocols for specimen testing, collection, 
transport and shipping have been adapted for Ethiopia, and are being 
used to train laboratory technicians at the Ethiopian Health and 
Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI).  WHO is also strengthening the 
laboratory network in the country, and is supporting key regional 
labs and their linkages to EHNRI. 
 
¶9. (U) CDC is working with the Ministry of Health and is 
supporting the secondment of two advisors to the MOH Emergency 
Operations Center.  In addition, CDC has supported the revision and 
finalization of the AI training of trainer materials targeting 
Emergency Operations Center staff at the regional level, as well as 
human health surveillance and outbreak investigation teams.  CDC 
also supplied equipment for the AI lab at EHNRI. 
 
¶10. (U) Mission points of contact are:  Judith Robb-McCord, 
USAID/Ethiopia Health Officer (251-11-551-88) and Carolyn Greene, 
CDC/Ethiopia Deputy Director for programs (251-11-4669566). 
 
YAMAMOTO