US Support to Government of Iraq Avian Influenza Response
FACT SHEET
February 2006
As a member of the US Embassy/Baghdad interagency Avian Influenza Working Group,
USAID/Iraq is actively mobilizing technical and program resources to support the Government of
Iraq (GOI) response to the avian flu outbreak in country. The interagency working group, with
membership from the US Embassy, USDA, USAID, and Multinational Force-Iraq (MNF-I), was
first established in late 2005 when reports of suspected avian influenza surfaced. Initial efforts
focused on improving monitoring and surveillance activities and on enhancing GOI
preparedness for possible avian influenza outbreaks.
With recent confirmation of the presence of the H5N1 virus in country and the GOI request for
WHO assistance in investigating the outbreak, both the World Health Organization (WHO) and
the US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3) fielded specialist teams to Iraq. USG
support to these teams in country has enabled the US Working Group, WHO, and the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) to effectively leverage international support for GOI investigation
and response efforts.
Contributing to the US Partnership: USAID Technical Assistance and Support
USAID funds have supported USG efforts to strengthen GOI preparedness and response:
- In October 2005, USAID contractor ARDI/DAI partnered with the Embassy Health
Attaché’s Office, MNFI and NAMRU-3 to assist the Ministry of Agriculture, Kurdistan
Regional Government, in the formation of veterinary-agricultural surveillance teams.
Teams were trained to collect samples from farms with high levels of poultry mortality
and to test samples for the avian influenza type A virus. ARDI staff also helped train
surveillance team members in the use of global positioning system (GPS) equipment to
track the surveillance teams and the geographic spread of the disease.
- In coordination with US Department of Agriculture and Health Attaché’s Office
counterparts, ARDI/DAI assisted the GOI to convene inter-ministerial meetings that led
to the formulation of a national response plan to prepare for a possible outbreak of highly
pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Building on NAMRU-3 support to the 2005 surveillance process and to enhance collaborative
linkages between the GOI and NAMRU-3, ARDI/DAI sponsored travel for a group of Iraqi
veterinary scientists to the NAMRU-3 laboratory in Cairo for training in diagnostic procedures for
avian influenza. Additional training will be done in collaboration with USDA's National Veterinary
Sciences Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.
USAID funds continue to support ongoing surveillance and response efforts:
- Following the GOI’s request and in coordination with the Health Attaché’s Office and
MNFI, USAID is providing 1,500 personal protective equipment kits for veterinary and
health workers, and disinfectant for ongoing agricultural response efforts.
- ARDI/DAI is mobilizing nongovernmental organization partners to support critically
important public awareness activities.
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