A word on Avian Flu.
Avian flu is very much a concern for us PCT's and PCV's right now. Last I heard there were cases all along the Nigerian border with Niger. There have also been some bird die off's in the Zinder region of Niger, though they have not yet been attributed to avian flu.
Also, we've been told that if avian flu becomes rampant in Niger, there will be measures taken to ensure the safety of us. It is my understanding that if bird to human transmission happens multiple times ina region, volunteers from that region will be pulled back. If human to human transmission happens, there is a chance of a full evacuation. I really don't like to think about the possibility of being pulled out shortly after swear in, but it's there.
I'm not 100% on any of these measures, but you can probably find out more info from the PC bureau itself. I know that there are a variety of sources in Peace Corps that have all this info.
posted by Seabass @ 9:18 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
For those of you who don't keep track of avian influenze worldwide as obsessively as I do. It was identified officially in Niger on February 27, 2006, in Magaria district.
This quote is from Pro-Med, a zoonotic disease listserve:
"Magaria district is situated 1000 km from Niamey. It is adjacent to the border
with the State of Kano, in Nigeria, where the presence of the virus H5N1 was
confirmed on 7 Feb 2006.
Since confirmation of the outbreak in Nigeria, the government of Niger has
been carrying out a vast awareness campaign in all regions of the country. All
the relevant sanitary measures are currently being implemented, with the help
of the country's development partners (FAO(1), WHO(2), AU-IBAR(3), OIE). An
Interministerial Committee on avian influenza control has been in place since
October 2005. A 12-month contingency plan has been prepared and has been
submitted to the development partners."
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