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