Avian Demography Unit: Malawi 2006

Avian Demography Unit
Department of Statistical Sciences
University of Cape Town

ADU travels, expeditions and events

Regional training workshop on early detection and prevention of avian flu, Lilongwe, Malawi, 24-28 April 2006

Doug Harebottle

I was invited by Wetlands International to be part of a team to workshop surveillance protocols and the role of wild birds in the possible spread and transmission of bird flu in Africa. This week-long exercise was coordinated by CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development) and funded by the FAO as part of their TCP Project on avian flu surveillance. The logistics of the workshop were arranged by the Centre for Ticks ancd Tick-borne Diseseas (CTTBD) in Malawi. A total of 30 delegates from 15 African countries were present and included both veterinary and wildlife personnel.

Photo D.M. Harebottle		The workshop took place at the Hotel Kalinkuli located near Lilongwe. Some delagates stayed at the hotel while others were accommodated at the CTTBD guest house.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Plenary sessions of the workshop were held in the Kamizu Hall Conference Room.
Photo D.M Harebottle		The workshop was officially opened by the Minister of Agriculture in Malawi, the Honourable Mr C. Mousa.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Mr Maslan Jusoh, FAO representative in Malawi, also gave an opening address.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		The hotel is a popular venue for workshops and conferences and the bird flu workshop was one of four meetings that took place during that week.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		We made a trip to Lumbadzi Sewage Works to assess its suitability for the practical field sessions.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		The delegates divided into two groups: Epidemiology and Wildlife. Here the wildlife group group meets to discuss bird monitoring, priority species listing and bird identification as part of avian flu surveillance protocol.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Delegates frequently worked in groups discussing risk analysis scenarios or surveillance protocols.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Practical sessions on taking avian flu samples - from poultry - were also organised, and included....
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Taking tracheal swabs...
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Taking cloacal swabs...
Photo D.M. Harebottle		And seriological samples.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		The workshop facilitators sampled some of the local cuisine during the week. Clockwise from left to right: Flavi Goutard (CIRAD), Stephanie Desvaux (CIRAD), Felix Njeumi (FAO, Rome), Doug Harebottle (Wetlands Intl/ADU) and Gillian Diesel (Royal Veterinary College); Alexandre Caron (CIRAD) took the picture.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Our favourite spot ended up being a local restaurant "Annies".
Photo A. Caron		The last two days of the workshop were devoted to practical field sessions for the Wildlife group. On Thursday we spent the morning travelling to Salima, close to the western shore of Lake Malawi. Maize fields comprise a large proportion of the landscape, with little natural vegetation remaining.
Photo A. Caron		We spent some time at the Mpasanjoka Dambo (Marsh) a site that the Malawi authorities have identified as a potential site for avian flu surveillance.
Photo A. Caron		The wetland is about 10 km long, with sedges, grasses and a dense covering of water lilies.
Photo A. Caron		Delegates were exposed to the practicalities of bird census and identification. Most of the theory that was discussed in the group sessions were applied during the excursion.
Photo A. Caron		Large flocks of White-faced Duck were seen, together with smaller numbers of Fulvous Duck, Hottentot Teal, African Jacana, African Sacred Ibis and an African Fish Eagle.
Photo A. Caron		We then travelled through to Lake Malawi, enjoying our lunch on the lake shore.
Photo A. Caron		The Wildlife Group delegates on the beach at Lake Malawi.
Photo A. Caron		Dugout canoes are scattered over the beach. These are used by local fisherman who use throw-nets to catch Tilapia (known locally as "Chambo") in the lake.
Photo A. Caron		Reed Cormorants were common along the lake edge along with Pied Kingfishers and African Fish Eagle, an indication of the availability of fish in the lake..
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Thursday night we ate supper at Kukoma Restaurant which apparently serves some of the best ice-cream in Lilongwe.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Pied Crows were abundant and a mob of 20 birds was often seen in and around the hotel. No terrestrial raptors were seen during the entire week.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Main road through Lilongwe from Blantyre.
Photo A. Caron		On Friday morning we took the Wildlife group to some dams owned by the Malawi Natural Resource College, situated on the outskirts of Lilongwe.
Photo A. Caron		Here we demonstrated the use of mist-nets to capture wild birds....
Photo D.M. Harebottle		..and the construction of walk-in traps for ducks, one of the priority waterbird groups identified for avian flu surveillance in Africa.
A. Caron		The delegates were tasked to assist in building some of the traps. This pratical, hands-on training was welcomed by all the participants.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		The only bird caught was an African Pied Wagtail, which was ringed and released.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Traffic jams are a daily occurrence in Lilongwe. Increased traffic volumes have occurred in recent times due to lack of upgrading of the roads and an apparent increase in the number of people who can now afford to buy cars.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		The collection and sale of firewood and charcoal is almost a daily activity for most of Malawi's population.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		The workshop was officially closed on Friday afternoon by Mr W. Lipita (second from right), Director of Animal Health and Livestock Development in Malawi.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		The FAO then hosted a reception at the Kalikuli Hotel on Friday evening...
Photo D.M. Harebottle		...where all delagtes had the chance to relax and dance to some local and West African music.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		On Saturday I visited the Centre for Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases (CTTBD)
Photo D.M. Harebottle		The CTTBD was established by and operates under the African Union (AU). It's main activity is developing vaccines for East Coast Fever (a tick-borne disease) which occurs in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Tanzania.
Photo D.M. Harebottle		Modern shopping centres have been developed in certain parts of Lilongwe in the past three years, and which serve both the locals and the relatively large ex-patriot population that work and live in Lilongwe.