AVIAN INFLUENZA IN SUDAN
Report date: 18 April 2006.
Reason for immediate notification: first occurrence of a listed disease or infection in a country.
Identification of agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5.
Date of first confirmation of the event: 17 April 2006.
Date of start of the event: 25 March 2006.
State ......... Location ................. Date ...........Avian Deaths
Khartoum ........ farm in Faki Hashim.......4-1-06............. 27,000
Khartoum .........farm in Soba West........4-13-06............35,000
Gezira .............farm in Shukkabal..........4-15-06.............1,400
Description of affected population: poultry in both closed and backyard systems.
Khartoum and Gezira States are the most highly populated States in Sudan. Both States are situated at the centre of the country. As they are highly populated areas there are many poultry farms. Most of the farms are small units with capacities ranging from 1,000 to 50,000 birds. In addition there are 6 intensive system farms with a capacity of around 250,000 birds. A backyard system is practiced in rural areas all over the country. The poultry industry in urban areas in Sudan is highly dependent on importation of hatching eggs and day-old live poultry from various sources.
Since the start of the current reports of avian influenza in many countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Sudan has implemented a harmonized action plan involving all stakeholder (veterinary authorities, public health authorities and poultry producers). The action plan is aimed at raising the capacities and capabilities to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into the country and to efficiently respond to the disease if introduced.
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Additional report from Promedmail-
More than 100 000 chickens on 15 farms near Khartoum have been
exterminated, Mustafa Hassan, a Ministry of Animal Resources official, told AFP today [18 Apr 2006].
The infected chickens were found at 2 farms in Khartoum and Jazeera
provinces. The man suspected of having avian flu owns one of the
farms, Reuters reported.
Sudan shares its long northern border with Egypt. Egypt is one of a
handful of African countries to have confirmed the H5N1 virus in
poultry and the only one with human cases confirmed to date. Other
African countries that have had outbreaks in poultry are Nigeria,
Niger, Cameroon, and Burkina Faso.
In addition to its proximity to at least one avian flu-affected
country, Sudan faces a number of internal problems that could
complicate response to H5N1. Infectious diseases still pose a major
concern in Sudan. In less than 2 years, WHO has noted, Sudanese
experienced Ebola, shigellosis, hepatitis E, meningococcal disease,
yellow fever, and cholera. The overall life expectancy at birth is
58.9 years, according to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Factbook online.
Sudan is also in the midst of a complex emergency in the western
region of Darfur. About 200 000 people have died, and nearly 2
million are displaced, according to the CIA. In addition, refugees
have flocked from Ethiopia and Chad to Sudan. Armed conflict,
transportation woes, and other hurdles have hindered humanitarian assistance.