France reinforces defenses against bird flu

PARIS (Reuters) – France said on Tuesday it would toughen
defenses against the potential arrival of bird flu in the
country, reinforcing checks at airports and building stockpiles
of vaccines in the event of a human pandemic.

France has said there is a moderate but real risk that the
H5N1 deadly strain of bird flu that has hit Asia and Russia
could spread to Europe via migratory birds.

“Reserves of antiviral medicines, vaccines and protection
measures for the population will be increased to the levels
required to ensure the health of all French citizens in the
event of any pandemic,” the government said in a statement.

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin chaired a
meeting of relevant ministers to beef up the plan first
announced in October 2004 to counter any potential threat.

French newspaper Liberation said the government had already
acquired 5 million doses of the antiviral drug Tamiflu,
produced by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, and was planning
to raise the level to 14 million by the year end.

The government said it would draw up contracts with two
companies currently capable of delivering vaccines to ensure
the whole population was vaccinated. It did not name the
companies.

But the vaccine is still under development and it will take
between three and six months before stocks can be delivered.

The government statement said controls at major
international airports would be reinforced, but did not say how
and when.

The number of protective face masks in stock would be
increased to 200 million by the start of next year from 50
million.

It said Villepin had asked for a strategy to be drawn up by
September 15 to inform the public on health risks and to
prepare health professionals and poultry producers.

Experts fear bird flu could mutate to spread easily among
humans and spark a global epidemic. So far, the virus has
caused the deaths of 62 people and millions of poultry have
been culled.

French health authorities have said that 20 million people
could contract a mutated strain in the event of a pandemic in
France, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.