CHIKUNGUNYA EPIDEMIC ON REUNION ISLAND -

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 001184

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/IHA, EUR/WE, CA/OCS
HHS FOR INTERNATIONAL BUDASHEWITZ AND NIH
DOD FOR USAMRIID
CDC FOR DR. DBELL

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO CASC FR
SUBJECT: CHIKUNGUNYA EPIDEMIC ON REUNION ISLAND -
HEALTH MINISTER UNDER FIRE

REF: Paris 1103

PARIS 00001184 001.2 OF 002


NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.


1. (U) Summary: A chikungunya (`chik') mosquito-borne viral
epidemic in the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion has
become a serious political problem in Paris. Health
Minister Bertrand in particular has been roundly criticized
for "under-estimating" the epidemic. In an attempt to rein
in the crisis, Prime Minister de Villepin will head for the
French overseas department on February 26, where he is
expected to announce new measures and significant financial
help. The Health and Research Ministries have established a
task force to define and coordinate chik research programs.
French medical authorities also requested U.S. military
medical research assistance. Assistance by U.S. authorities
to aid the French in combating the chik epidemic is much
appreciated. End summary.

New Facts, Soaring Figures
--------------


2. (U) According to the Health Ministry's latest figures
(released February 23),over 130,000 people (out of a
population of some 800,000) have contracted the chik virus
in Reunion since the start of the outbreak in March 2005.
More than 100,000 chik cases have been recorded since the
beginning of 2006 and the toll of new infections was running
at 22,000 cases for the third week of February alone. The
viral infection, which hits 15 percent of the population (25
percent according to some local reports),is usually
characterized by muscular pain and joint swellings, fever
and rash and lasts three to seven days.


3. (U) French authorities and medical staff in Reunion
recently expressed their concern at the evolution of the
infection and symptoms, emphasizing notably new transmission
from mother to child, neurological manifestations of the
disease (meningitis),and frequent relapses among patients
after a two-week period of remission. Above all, French
authorities acknowledge that the virus, initially described
as "not life-threatening," may be "directly or indirectly"
responsible for the deaths of 77 people, including children.

Worrisome, Contentious Issue
--------------


4. (U) Subject to major disruption of everyday activities,
and confronted with increasing cancellations by French tour
operators (tourism is an major source of income in Reunion),
the islanders contrast the strong response underway by the
GOF to the avian influenza and the relatively scant - they
claim -- attention paid by "continental France" to the chik
issue. A Socialist Deputy generated turmoil in the National
Assembly on February 21, claiming that the GOF was "paying
more attention to geese (a reference to the Avian Influenza
threat) than to Reunionese." Note: The GOF has spent
approximately 750,000 USD so far in their response to the
chik outbreaks. Prime Minister de Villepin is expected to
announce more financial commitments during his visit. End
note.

Epidemic of Ministers
--------------


5. (U) Chikungunya has been widely covered by the French
press with more and more provocative headlines such as "The
Government's Strange Torpor." or "The Price of Inaction"
(Liberation, February 24). One report in the daily Le Monde
mentioned that a persistent rumor circulating on Reunion is
that somehow the epidemic is associated with the actions of
a U.S. military unit that recently visited the island.
(Note: A USAF telemetry unit did visit there for the launch
of a NASA satellite, but of course had nothing to do with
the disease. End note.) Health Minister Bertrand, notably,
has received the lion's share of the parliamentary and media
criticism over the management of the epidemic. Reportedly
"irritated" by his Health Minister, the Prime Minister has
decided to take the lead on the issue: after the Health,
Tourism and Overseas Territories Ministers, the PM will be
the fourth minister to visit Reunion within a matter of a

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couple weeks.

Increased Means
--------------


6. (U) The GOF has announced the provision of extra troops
to eradicate the mosquito population. In addition, 3600
insecticide sprayers will be available to spray the entire
island of Reunion by February 27. The Health Minister also
announced the shipment of extra medical equipment and the
reinforcement of medical care. Other measures include the
free distribution of mosquito repellent and mosquito-nets
treated with insecticide to categories of the population
(pregnant women, young children, and the elderly).


7. (U) Meanwhile, the French government has established a
task force to coordinate research on the chik disease in
public research agencies and university hospitals. This new
entity will be supervised by Professor Antoine Flahaut, Head
of the Public Health Department at the hospital Tenon in
Paris, also responsible for the "Sentinelles" network
(France's flu surveillance network). The new structure has
already been tasked to establish and coordinate a
comprehensive research program around the following themes:
characterization of the virus; control of insects acting as
vectors; study of the environmental impact of insecticides
used in Reunion; exploitation of epidemiological data; and
elaboration of new therapeutic approaches. One million
euros has also been earmarked for clinical research,
including serological analysis of a thousand pregnant women.

U.S. Assistance
--------------


8. (U) During the visit to Paris of Deputy Secretary of HHS
Azar in January, Health Minister Bertrand sought whatever
U.S. assistance might be possible to address the chik
epidemic. Embassy understands that HHS and U.S. military
health authorities (USAMRIID) are engaged in discussions on
transfer of research that has been conducted into the
disease. The Embassy very much supports this work and seeks
- at the earliest appropriate occasion - to assist in the
dissemination of a press release regarding this cooperation.


HOFMANN