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