FRANCE REPORTS FIRST CASE OF AVIAN FLU IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 001103 SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/HA, EUR/WE, CA/OCS HHS FOR INTERNATIONAL BUDASHEWITZ USDA FOR ITP/MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP/WETZEL USDA FOR FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS CDC FOR DR. DBELL HOMELAND SECURITY FOR OIA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU TBIO CASC AMGT FR SUBJECT: FRANCE REPORTS FIRST CASE OF AVIAN FLU IN WILD BIRD - ANNOUNCES NEW MEASURES & NATIONAL EXERCISE REF: Paris 520 and previous NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. Summary: French authorities confirmed on February 18 the first case of avian flu in a wild duck on French territory. The government has extended the confinement of poultry to all departments of continental France. Vaccination of fowl is imminent in areas where confinement is difficult to enforce, contingent on a green light from the EU. French authorities also continue to hone the national pandemic preparedness plan and have scheduled a major national drill for March 15- ¶16. Senior French security authorities have requested the participation of the Embassy in the exercise. Embassy would welcome Washington-based DHS participation. End summary. Bird Flu found in France -------------- ¶2. The H5N1 strain was found in a wild duck at Joyeux (Ain),near Lyon. France is the sixth European country where a case of avian flu has been confirmed. French government reference laboratory determined with 99% accuracy the strain matched the Asian origin H5N1 virus. Authorities immediately installed a security zone of three kilometers around the spot and a zone of vigilance of 10 kilometers radius that is to remain in place for at least twenty-one days. The transport of birds is forbidden in the surveillance zone. French Act Quickly: confinement and vaccination -------------- --- ¶3. Even before final confirmation of the case, the GOF extended confinement of poultry to all 96 departments (districts) in continental France. (Fifty-eight departments were previously subject to this requirement.) Ahead of all other EU members, France has ordered the vaccination of ducks and geese in three departments (wet lands) where confinement is not practical: Landes, Loire- Atlantique and Vendee. Three million doses of vaccine will reportedly be made available during the last week of February and vaccination could start immediately pending EU authorization (see next para). The vaccination period is expected to last about one month. Vaccination costs (1.6 million euros) will be covered by the GOF. The vet vaccines against avian flu will be provided by U.S.'s Fort Dogge (Wyeth) and Netherlands Intervet (Akzo Nobel). ¶4. Comment: Press reports highlight that the GOF decision to order mandatory vaccination of ducks and geese is contested by other EU members and scientists. The latter highlight the risk that birds once inoculated might emerge as "carriers" of the disease and will be impossible to detect. However, the French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) claimed that the types of vaccine chosen should make it possible to distinguish between birds that have been vaccinated and those that are sick. The French poultry industry is also strongly resisting vaccination of poultry. They see exports falling because vaccination makes the poultry unfit for consumption for a period of about three weeks. In reality, if poultry were to be vaccinated a number of importers would reject the meat. End comment. Polishing the national plan -------------- ¶5. The updated avian flu national plan released in January has been supplemented with material detailing a series of measures to be adopted in a number of sectors, with emphasis on the health sector. More information is available on the GOF avian flu dedicated website: www.grippeaviaire.gouv.fr and on the Health Ministry website: www.sante.gouv.fr. ¶6. The Foreign Ministry has informed the Embassy that two simulations will be staged soon: the first on February 24 in Lyon (with participation of the Prime Minister) is designed to test reactions of the administration at the regional level; and a second one "with a much larger scope" on March 15-16 (focusing on phase 5 A and B, and phase 6 as defined by WHO). The purpose of the second exercise is to test at the national level health and security preparedness. Both the Health and Interior Ministries will be deeply involved. The drill will be conducted under the overall supervision and responsibility of the Secretariat General de la Defense Nationale (SGDN) in the Office of the Prime Minister. Several foreign governments have been tapped to participate through their embassies in Paris, including the U.K, Germany, Australia, and U.S. Public Reaction -------------- ¶7. While there is no panic, nor is there complacency. Public authorities continue to receive many requests for information (up to 8000 calls/day last week-end on the government's free toll number). Media have reported a 15 to 20 percent drop in poultry sales since the beginning of the year. While the French media emphasizes that France is implementing stricter measures than neighboring countries, the GOF public posture is reassurance. Speaking to reporters during his trip to Thailand, President Chirac called for a "calm, but serious approach to the situation." STAPLETON