The Early Detection, Surveillance and Reporting of Avian Influenza

HPAI (Highly-pathogenic avian influenza) is transmitted among bird populations and can devastate flocks of poultry kept by rural families. This project increases the capacity of veterinary services in East Africa through practical, community-focused active surveillance methods of the disease.

One of the key activities under the project is to train veterinarians in disease surveillance for HPAI. Training courses for veterinarians from Kenya and Tanzania will be carried out by VETAID and ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute) in Tanzania. Over 100 Community Vaccinators will be trained in Avian Influenza awareness and disease reporting from three Districts of the Northern Zone of Tanzania.

It is anticipated that as a result of the training, there will be an increase in poultry disease reporting to District veterinary services that will require follow up and investigation by the government veterinarians.

We have also identified a need to conduct refresher training courses for Community Vaccinators in high risk areas of the north and south.

Progress Report, June 2009

On 3rd – 5th March 2009, a ‘trainers training course’ was held on Newcastle Disease (ND) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) for 19 Livestock Field Officers. The object of the course was to impart technical knowledge on both diseases to local government veterinary field staff, and provide them with the capacity to train other staff in their respective districts. Guidelines were provided about surveillance and sampling.

At the end of training, participants in 10 different districts were able to:

• Recognize / distinguish ND & HPAI cases.
• To report cases quickly and accurately.
• Create awareness of both diseases.
• Carry out control and surveillance of both diseases.
• Acquire insights into control strategy.

In April 2009, another training course was held, training the vaccinators on community disease detection, prevention and reporting on Newcastle disease (NCD) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

The training was conducted in 6 districts and 160 Livestock field officers attended. The course was spearheaded by a group of 4 veterinary surgeons with specific knowledge of both diseases. The training focused on equipping livestock field officers to be able to detect, prevent and control diseases, taking proper bio-security measures.

The course included.

• Discussing the role and importance of poultry for the livelihood of the community.
• HPIA - reviewing participants existing knowledge then updating detection and reporting systems from the field to Ministry level.
• NCD - reviewing existing knowledge, giving updates where needed and advice on diagnosis, sample collection, reporting systems and control using I-2 vaccine.
• Training in collecting samples i.e. proper handling and transport.
• Training on vaccine handling, storage, record keeping and vaccination calendar.
• Encouraging the proper use of personal protective equipment when suspecting HPAI outbreaks.
• Giving practical advice and demonstrations on how to carry out a post mortem on infected chicken.
• Demonstrating how to carry out vaccination against Newcastle disease using I-2 vaccine.
• Ethics in veterinary services as per Veterinary Disease Act 2003

Summary:
20,212 chickens were vaccinated against NCD using I-2 thermostable vaccines during the practical sessions in all districts.
1,500,000 doses of Newcastle vaccine have been purchased and distributed to the districts.
Vaccination equipment and protective kits (for HPAI) have been purchased and distributed to the districts.
Six refrigerators have been purchased and each district has received one to support cold chain and vaccine storage.