Highly Pathogenic Avian InfluenzaHighly Pathogenic Avian InfluenzaIN EGYPTIN EGYPT

Presentation byPresentation by

Prof. Dr. Hamed SamahaProf. Dr. Hamed SamahaCVO, GOVSCVO, GOVS

HPAI Technical MeetingHPAI Technical MeetingRome, 27-29 JuneRome, 27-29 June

HPAI in EgyptHPAI in Egypt

Historical view of the diseaseHistorical view of the disease

Current status of the diseaseCurrent status of the disease

Integrated National Plan for Avian and Human InfluenzaIntegrated National Plan for Avian and Human Influenza

WHAT WAS DONE WHAT WAS DONE

CURRENT ACTIVITIESCURRENT ACTIVITIES

CONSTRAINTSCONSTRAINTS

FUTURE INTERVENTIONSFUTURE INTERVENTIONS

Historical view of the diseaseHistorical view of the disease

The first HPAI outbreak was announced on 17th February 2006

It started in 3 governorates and spread thereafter to 21 out of the 27 governorates of the country, infecting commercial and backyard systems

36 million birds have been culled with costs estimated at between 2 36 million birds have been culled with costs estimated at between 2 to 3 million USD.to 3 million USD.

1.5 million individuals whose livelihoods depend on poultry were 1.5 million individuals whose livelihoods depend on poultry were affectedaffected

The disease is now endemic and outbreaks are detected from north to south of the country but mainly in the areas adjacent to the Nile river

Current status of the diseaseCurrent status of the diseaseUpdated on 13/6/2007 (Since February 2006)

Poultry cases

Backyard – 370 cases; Farms – 850 cases; Zoo – 4 cases.

Human cases 3281 suspected cases 37 cases confirmed 15 deaths

11 males and 26 females 2 cases in farm workers 35 cases in backyard owners

Monthly evolution of positive cases of HPAI in Egypt

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In poultry

Integrated National Plan for Avian and Integrated National Plan for Avian and Human InfluenzaHuman Influenza

Regulatory measuresRegulatory measures SurveillanceSurveillance Culling and disinfectionCulling and disinfection Restocking of farmsRestocking of farms CompensationCompensation VaccinationVaccination Communication, and awarenessCommunication, and awareness TrainingTraining Quarantine measuresQuarantine measures Registration of poultry slaughter housesRegistration of poultry slaughter houses

Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR) is responsible for the progressive Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR) is responsible for the progressive control of HPAI H5N1 in domestic poultrycontrol of HPAI H5N1 in domestic poultry

Government coordination of HPAI activities is provided by a Supreme Committee headed by the Government coordination of HPAI activities is provided by a Supreme Committee headed by the Ministry of Health and Population, an Avian Influenza Scientific Committee at GOVS level and a Ministry of Health and Population, an Avian Influenza Scientific Committee at GOVS level and a Committee for Combating Avian Influenza within the MARLCommittee for Combating Avian Influenza within the MARL

What was done (1/2)What was done (1/2) Trainings on various topics for:Trainings on various topics for:

field veterinarians, 2400 farm workers, 3600 staff at Governorate and field veterinarians, 2400 farm workers, 3600 staff at Governorate and District veterinary servicesDistrict veterinary services

Development of SOPs on surveillance, culling, etc.Development of SOPs on surveillance, culling, etc.

Culling – around 36 million birdsCulling – around 36 million birds Recruitment of national staff: 1200 veterinarians; 1200 employees; 300 Recruitment of national staff: 1200 veterinarians; 1200 employees; 300

derivers (vaccination. surveillance and control)derivers (vaccination. surveillance and control) Initially compensation was done (185 million LE) Initially compensation was done (185 million LE) Vaccination started on 7Vaccination started on 7thth March 2006 (H5N1 and H5N2 inactivated March 2006 (H5N1 and H5N2 inactivated

vaccines)vaccines) 0ver 750 million birds were vaccinated with H5N2 and 150 million birds 0ver 750 million birds were vaccinated with H5N2 and 150 million birds

with H5N1 in commercial farmswith H5N1 in commercial farms; 70 million birds were vaccinated with ; 70 million birds were vaccinated with H5N1 in backyards; H5N1 in backyards; 11 million day old chicks were vaccinated with 11 million day old chicks were vaccinated with H5N2H5N2

What was done (2/2)What was done (2/2)

Cooperation with other agencies (ongoing)Cooperation with other agencies (ongoing)

UNICEF (support in Communications and technical advices )

NAMRU-3 and WHO (assistance in viruses isolation, strengthening of national referral labs)

AU / IBAR via OIE (14 million doses of H5N2 AI vaccine)

The World Bank (minimize risk of Human Influenza via controlling HPAI in domestic birds)

Development of national preparedness plans and other activities in collaboration with FAO, WB, WHO, UNICEF, UNSIC, WFP, USAID

Current activities Mass vaccination of backyard flocks (national plan for backyard poultry vaccination)

Increase the capacity of the central laboratory and it’s satellites

Assistance in public awareness campaigns

Restructuring and upgrading the poultry production sector, and improving the backyard practices

Reviewing and amending the current disease control decrees and laws

Setting clear description for the mandates of the relevant parties within MoALR and among all other relevant national or international parties

Reviewing and Improving the Egyptian National Integrated plan for control and eradication of HPAI, with new approaches for the surveillance plan to effectively minimize the spread of the virus and monitor the efficacy of the control measures

ConstraintsConstraints At village, district and governorate level the existing public veterinary services need At village, district and governorate level the existing public veterinary services need

to be strengthenedto be strengthened Provision of technical assistanceProvision of technical assistance Information flow between the different administrative levels – needs Information flow between the different administrative levels – needs

improvementimprovement Coordination between all relevant authorities needs to be strengthenedCoordination between all relevant authorities needs to be strengthened

Difficulties to enforce legislationDifficulties to enforce legislation

Standard procedures in core functions (preparedness, surveillance, control, Standard procedures in core functions (preparedness, surveillance, control, quarantine, biosecurity, certification) – needs to be tested / updatedquarantine, biosecurity, certification) – needs to be tested / updated

Response capacity to confirmed infections – needs to improveResponse capacity to confirmed infections – needs to improve

CullingCulling compensation initially not applied to backyard poultry keeperscompensation initially not applied to backyard poultry keepers no incentive to notify a suspected cases of HPAIno incentive to notify a suspected cases of HPAI

Future interventions (1/2)Future interventions (1/2) SOPs developed / updated, tested and disseminated SOPs developed / updated, tested and disseminated

In each governorate, a rapid response team to disease outbreaks will be In each governorate, a rapid response team to disease outbreaks will be constituted and equippedconstituted and equipped

At village, district and governorate levels strengthen the existing public veterinary At village, district and governorate levels strengthen the existing public veterinary servicesservices

Provision of technical assistance / means of real-time communication / Provision of technical assistance / means of real-time communication / trainingtraining

Continue vaccination of poultry nationwide (mass vaccination)Continue vaccination of poultry nationwide (mass vaccination)

Developing of national laboratory for vaccine production to produce AI Developing of national laboratory for vaccine production to produce AI vaccinevaccine

Increasing the capacity of poultry slaughter housesIncreasing the capacity of poultry slaughter houses

Continue restructuring the national poultry production industryContinue restructuring the national poultry production industry

Future interventions (2/2)Future interventions (2/2)

In collaboration with FAO and other partners to implement the In collaboration with FAO and other partners to implement the following projects:following projects:

Strengthening the animal health system at local, governorate Strengthening the animal health system at local, governorate and central levels to prevent, control, and eradicate highly and central levels to prevent, control, and eradicate highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1in Egyptpathogenic avian influenza H5N1in Egypt

Emergency assistance for the early detection, prevention and Emergency assistance for the early detection, prevention and control of avian influenza in the Maghreb and Egyptcontrol of avian influenza in the Maghreb and Egypt

Promoting strategies for prevention and control of HPAI that Promoting strategies for prevention and control of HPAI that focus on smallholder livelihoods and biodiversityfocus on smallholder livelihoods and biodiversity

Thank youThank you