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Subject: Egypt - Wild Bird Surveillance - 2007
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wkaresh
Posts:18
03/30/2007 2:44 PM  
Teams with scientists from the Ministry of State for Environment Affairs and Nature Conservation Egypt, and a Dutch bird ringer, working with Wetlands International have recently collected over 2000 samples from wild live birds covering eight important wetland areas in Egypt. At the same time the status of water birds at Egypt's main wetlands was assessed. The sampling was conducted during January and February 2007 and the teams were able to work with 40 different species of birds including a variety of migratory waterfowl. Samples are now being evaluated by CIRAD in France. This work was jointly supported by FAO and USAID through the GAINS program.

Egypt is one of the most important wintering and passage grounds for water birds in the Mediterranean Basin. It is located along globally important routes for migratory birds traveling between Eurasia and Africa. To help quantify the risk for the spreading of avian influenza amongst the migratory birds and along these migratory routes an assessment of bird numbers and the occurrence of the HPAI H5N1 in healthy wild birds in Egypt is necessary. In Egypt wetlands have come under increasing pressures, that have resulted in reduction of their area and an increase in the density of human activities in and around them.

Today wild water birds come into close contact with humans and their livestock in many areas and circumstances, where the possibility of transmission of pathogens between domestic and wild birds is heightened. Wild birds could contract as well as transmit the avian influenza virus in such situations. Therefore, in January and February 2007, work was initiated with support from USAID through the GAINS initiative and from FAO to:
  • Assess the current status of wintering water birds in Egypt's major wetlands
  • Identify the major points of contact between domestic and wild water birds (flash points)
  • Collect representative samples from wild water birds from a variety of locations in Egypt with focus on contact areas (between domestic and wild water birds).
  • Elevate national capacity in water bird and wetland survey techniques and in monitoring and sampling techniques. This was done by field work during a period of nearly two months, which undertook to:
    •  Set up and coordinate an extensive survey of water birds at key wetlands in Egypt.
    • Ensure training / capacity building during the surveys, in order to strengthen the abilities of national participants.
  • Describe condition of wetlands visited. Also identify, as far as possible, wetlands / areas in Egypt where AI might potentially be spread between domestic poultry and wild birds, and briefly describe these areas.
  • Organize all field logistics, including transport, accommodation and payments to participants.
  • Complete International Water bird Census site and census forms for each site visited.
  • Set up and coordinate an AI sampling programme in Egypt, which includes sites of potential contact between water birds and domestic poultry, areas close to current outbreaks of AI in domestic poultry, the cattle egret colony at Giza and selected wetlands.
  • Species for sampling included Cattle Egrets, waders and other water birds, and potentially other birds that may mix with poultry (such as sparrows). Tracheal and cloacal samples were taken from all species, although faecal samples have been gathered for Cattle Egrets.
  • Set up and lead a national team to work closely with André Duiven to catch and sample birds.
  • Identify areas in Egypt where AI might potentially be spread between domestic poultry and wild birds, and describe these areas. The work was recently finalized. The outputs that are being worked on at the moment, include:
    • Report detailing the winter water bird surveys in Egypt's wetlands
    • Report documenting wetland status and identifying critical contact points
    • Report summarizing the sampling effort and results of bird flu analysis
  • Trained staff capable of carrying out similar survey activities in the future. 
Some preliminary results of the surveillance work are presented below:

The fieldwork was performed in two missions:

Mission 1, 3 sites:
  • Lake Manzalla, Lake Elabasa, Lake Elbawa; Egypt, (appr Long: 31° 57 9.68, Lat: 31° 17 11.51)
  • Total 1232 samples, 11 Jan - 3 Feb, oro-pharygeal (buccal) + cloacal, 19 species, sex determined where possible (mainly ducks)
Mission 2, 5 sites:

  • Cairo, Fayoum, Lake Brulous, Lake Manzalla, Sherqeya (appr Long: 32° 09 857, Lat 31° 18 178)
  • Total 778 samples, 07 Jan - 27 Feb, oro-pharyngeal (buccal) + cloacal, 38 species, sex determined where possible (mainly ducks),
For further details contact:
  • Wetlands International, Ward Hagemeijer Head of Biodiversity Local contacts Nature Conservation Egypt, c/o Dr Hala Barakat, representative of a team of researchers for wetland survey and waterbird monitoring in Egypt,
  • Also, Marwen El Azzouni Dr Luay El Said Ahmed, Wildlife Programme Manager, Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs, representative of a team of researchers for AI surveillance in wild birds in Egypt.
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