FIRST APPARENT CASE OF AVIAN FLU IN FRENCH

UNCLAS PARIS 001144 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 C O R R E C T E D COPY - Changed Reftel E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU TBIO CASC AMGT FR SUBJECT: FIRST APPARENT CASE OF AVIAN FLU IN FRENCH DOMESTIC POULTRY REF: Paris 01103, and previous ¶1. (U) Summary: Early on February 24, France's Agriculture Minister confirmed that a flock of domestic turkeys contained highly pathogenic H5 virus. Laboratory results, expected shortly, have yet to confirm definitively the H5N1 strain. However, the flock of turkeys - since culled - was located in the same department, Ain, as the wild duck confirmed to have been infected with H5N1 a week ago (see reftel). The government immediately reacted by reinforcing its cordon around the affected area and pledging 52 million euros in assistance to the poultry industry. End summary. ¶2. (U) Late on February 23, French media began reporting the death of some 400 turkeys out of a flock of 11,000 in the village of Versailleux in Ain near the city of Lyon in southeastern France. Reports suggest that these birds were being raised within the confinement zone established following the confirmation late last week of a dead wild duck diseased with the H5N1 virus. In accordance with emergency procedures, the entire flock of turkeys was culled and their carcasses incinerated. French authorities augmented with gendarmes the zone of confinement around the area where the dead birds were being raised, effectively sealing off the farm. ¶3. (U) Samples of the dead turkeys are being analyzed by the French reference laboratory at Ploufragan for confirmation they contain the H5N1 virus. Although definitive word regarding the existence of H5N1 has not yet been provided by laboratory authorities, Minister of Agriculture Dominique Bussereau announced that the 400 birds had died of a highly pathogenic strain of the H5 virus. French veterinary authorities informed Embassy Foreign Agricultural Service that the flock of turkeys was located only one kilometer from the site where the dead H5N1 wild duck was found last week. The approximately 11,000 turkeys were all 56 days old. Prior to their culling, the turkey flock evidenced a 90% morbidity and 5% mortality rate from the illness. ¶4. (U) Following these events, President Chirac announced the total mobilization of the government to address the protection of the French poultry industry. Prime Minister de Villepin promised 52 million euros in supplementary assistance: 20 million to assist chicken ranchers, 20 million for industry enterprises, and two million to support campaigns "to encourage the consumption of poultry." While these measures have been supported by the local poultry industry, the Agriculture Ministry is expected to return to Brussels to seek additional resources for the French poultry industry to deal with this potential crisis. ¶5. (U) The apparent case of avian flu in France's domestic industry has given renewed impetus to the vaccination against H5N1 of some 900,000 geese and ducks being raised in three French departments (Vendee, Landes, and Loire-Atlantique) where confinement is not possible. The green light was given by the EU in Brussels on Wednesday for vaccination of these flocks to proceed. ¶6. (U) Comment: It is not yet clear how the turkeys - which reportedly were confined - became infected. This has caused speculation in the press and raised public anxiety. End Comment. HOFMANN