AVIAN INFLUENZA ZIMBABWE

COUNTRY STATUS REPORT

Dr J Nyika, Dr SM Midzi, Dr O KakonoRoode Vallei Country Lodge

Pretoria7-9 March 2006

Presentation Outline

• Background– Migratory birds– Livestock farming systems– Trade issues

• Country capacities– Human Resources– Diagnostics– Infrastructure

• Preparedness• Suspect & Outbreak situations• Challenges

Migratory birds

• Transcontinental migratory birds are said to be of very minor threat– They maybe problems with regional migrators

coming out of the Great Rift Valley

• We have few, if any, ducks and geese which are likely to be the major carriers of the disease

Livestock Farming Systems

• Vibrant well regulated industry– Commercial and communal

• Beef, dairy, poultry, pigs

• Export of livestock and livestock products to the region and beyond

Trade

International trade (Formal)• The country exports:

– Day old chicks– Hatching (embryonated) eggs – Table eggs

• And until recently poultry and ostrich meat.

– Beef

Local Trade• Animals and birds slaughtered at registered abattoirs are

sold through the formal market. – However there is informal trading at local level.

Capacity: Human resources-Animal Health

Indicator Number

Veterinarians 75

Lab Technologists 33

Para-Vets 1 265

Research Scientists 8

Capacity-Human Resources-Human Health

Indicator Establishment Filled Vacant Ratio of filled posts

Doctors 1 557 770 787 49.5%

Pharmacists 132 20 112 15.2%

Pharmacy Technicians

185 72 113 38.9%

Nurses 14 239 9 680 4 559 68.0%

Radiographers 159 29 130 18.2%

Hospital Equipment Technicians

95 40 55 42.1%

Lab Scientists 385 263 122 68.0%

Environmental Health Officers

1 599 753 846 47.1%

Diagnostics-Animal Health

• The Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) that is ISO 17025 Accredited, employs an HAI test

• Determines the H and not N of the virus. • Capacity to test at least 2 000 samples per day. • Has validated and are using the AI ELISA. • The lab is making efforts to develop molecular

based techniques for the typing of the AI virus. • CVL has put up a High Security Lab for

dangerous pathogens but it needs EQUIPPING.• They have received assistance from regional FAO

AI TCP to acquire reagents and protective gear – In addition to CVL a private laboratory,ZIMVET, has been

accredited by Government to screen samples on their behalf using the HAI and ELISA.

Capacity-Diagnostics-Human Health

• Currently there is no capacity to test human samples in the country – Relying on sending samples to RSA

• However the country has WHO accredited Virology lab for testing measles and polio viruses– There is potential to capacitate the existing

virology lab to test AI samples • need to be pursued with assistance of WHO

Capacity-Infrastructure

VETERINARY• 8 Provincial Veterinary

Offices• 53 Field Veterinary Offices• 308 Animal Health Centres• 4 000 Dip tanks• 1 Central Laboratory & 4

Provincial Diagnostic Laboratories– Virology and Bacteriology

section have ISO 17025 certification

HUMAN HEALTH• 6 Government Central

Hospitals (all with Labs but no capacity for AI virus-testing)

• University Teaching Hospital has a WHO accredited regional Virology Laboratory (Measles and Polio) which can be improved to do AI testing.

• 10 Private Tertiary Hospitals• 7 Provincial Hospitals• 60 District Hospitals• 17 Mission Hospitals• 1 316 Rural/Municipal Health

Facilities• At least 15 Private

laboratories

Preparedness

National• A multi-stakeholder National Taskforce on HPAI has

been set up and is co-chaired by Veterinary Services (Ministry of Agriculture) and the Department of Disease Prevention and Control (Ministry of Health and Child Welfare)(MOHCW)  

• The Taskforce, which also includes Wildlife Management & National Parks, Bird Groups, WHO, FAO, Ostrich/Pig Producers, Transport and Communications, Home Affairs and ZIMRA, meets once a month.

Provincial and District Level• Zoonotic subcommittees comprised of Veterinary

Services and MOHCW meet quarterly but meets more frequently when necessary.

Suspect situations VETERINARY

Wild birds• Surveillance of wetlands

(identified and mapped) by Wildlife Management and Parks

Ostriches and Poultry• Sero-surveillance• Enforcement of Bio-security

measures• Movement control• Establishment of disease free

compartments• Awareness programmes in the

print and electronic media, extension by departmental staff and local government structures.

HUMAN HEALTH• Seasonal (May to

September)-Weekly reporting of clinical Human Influenza cases in place from 750 health institutions (representing 75% of all health facilities).

Outbreaks situations-Veterinary

• As soon as an outbreak is confirmed:– Properties are quarantined

• Screening and surveillance of birds in the whole country to establish extend of infection

• Mapping of problem areas• Establishment of disease free compartments• Movement control• Suspension of exports• Policy on control (slaughter, vaccination etc.) still

to be developed• Awareness programmes in the print and electronic

media, extension by departmental staff and local government structures.

Outbreaks situations- Human Health

• A wide network of health facilities in place which are within 8km of any individual however there is a shortage of professional staff particularly in outlying rural areas.

• Shortage of suitable equipment, reagents and drugs will be a problem 

• Guidelines will be needed from the WHO on the management of HPAI in human beings

Challenges• Demand for high insurance by health workers

working in infectious disease hospitals remains unresolved– outbreak experiences

• SARS• VHF (Ebola,Marburg )

• Protective clothing• Compensation for farmers of culled poultry• Quarantine facilities are likely to be

stretched• Capacity to import

– Vaccines ,Osteltamivir(Tamiflu),Lab reagents• In light of FC constraints