Contingency plan?

France has ordered all domestic poultry to be kept indoors or vaccinated. Bans on holding fairs or exhibitions with wild birds, and feeding poultry outside. The French authorities intend to launch a vaccination programme for domestic birds in certain wetland areas, provided the EU gives consent.

France has asked for 40 million vaccine doses in the event of a human pandemic.

Vaccine research?

French company Sanofi Pasteur - a major flu vaccine manufacturer - says trials of a human vaccine are promising and was scheduled to deliver 1.4 million doses to France's health ministry by the end of 2005. It is also contracted to supply the vaccine to the US and Australia.

Anti-virals stocks?

France said it would have anti-viral drugs for 14 million individuals by the end of 2005.

Other information?

Two hundred million face masks for use by hospital staff were ordered for 2006.

Information correct as of 20 February 2006