AVIAN INFLUENZA FRANCE UPDATE - 4/28/06

UNCLAS PARIS 002837

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G/AIAG, OES/IHA, EUR/WE, CA/OCS
HHS FOR INTERNATIONAL GAY
USDA FOR ITP/MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP/WETZEL
USDA FOR FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS
CDC FOR DR. NANCY COX
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR OIA
USEU FOR ESTH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO CASC AMGT FR
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA FRANCE UPDATE - 4/28/06

REF: Paris 2834

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Paris Launches Information Campaign
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1. On April 24, Minister of Health Bertrand announced France's new
public awareness campaign to minimize the impact of a potential
avian influenza pandemic. The campaign called, "Adoptons les gestes
qui nous protegent," translated as, "Taking the steps that will
protect us," will debut in May. The campaign will target both the
general public and health practitioners. As part of this campaign,
the GOF has adopted a color-coded system to notify the French public
of threat levels and corresponding precautions to take.


2. Threat Level Green: The first alert level, represented by the
color green, signifies a threat of common respiratory viruses, such
as the flu and colds season. In this condition, people are reminded
to follow three simple rules: to wash hands for at least 30 seconds
before preparing food, on leaving the lavatory, and when returning
home; to dispose of used tissues in the trash; and to wear a mask
when sick with respiratory ailments.


3. Four million leaflets and posters will be distributed in
hospitals, medical offices, and to different public sectors starting
in May. In September, the GOF will begin distributing information
kits and masks to schools. Beyond this, the GOF also plans to
purchase space in the media to diffuse the message.


4. Threat Level Orange: This second alert level will signify the
presence of avian influenza in domestic poultry. The public
campaign will again use national and regional media to publicize
messages concerning the handling of poultry.


5. Threat Level Red: This final alert level will signify that a
pandemic of the avian influenza has reached France. Although the
response to this level is still being developed, Minister Bertrand
noted that 500 million surgical masks will be available by this
summer, and distributed freely in the event of a pandemic.


6. Messages to Health Practitioners: The second part of the new
awareness campaign is directed at health professionals to ensure
they receive the same information. Some 400,000 'prevention kits'
will be sent to hospitals and doctors. Each kit contains a CD-ROM
detailing what would need to be done in the event of a pandemic, as
well as two masks for demonstrational purposes: one type FFP2 (N95)
for respiratory risks and one surgical.


7. Medical Field Skeptical: Soon after the Health Minister
announced the new public information campaign, France's union of
generalist doctors complained the plan of action was "utopic."
Specifically, the union criticized the government's plan to offer
informational training classes for doctors and health professionals
from June to December of this year. To prepare the entire health
sector for a pandemic would require a massive training effort. The
union is concerned the government will lack the resources for such
an ambitious undertaking.

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More Dead Swans
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8. Two dead swans, discovered this past weekend in the department
of Ain in France's south, tested positive for H5N1. A seven km
protection zone has been established in this area. Since January,
France has tested 14,000 dead wild birds. Sixty-four of them tested
positive for H5N1. While 63 were found in the same department of
Ain, one was found in a neighboring department Bouches-du-Rhone.

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French National Avian Influenza Exercise Completed
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9. On April 24-25 Embassy participated in France's national level
AI exercise. For a further read-out of this see Paris 2834.

STAPLETON