Mock Bird Flu Drill Tests French Town's Preparedness, and Gets a Good Grade

ByABC News
February 24, 2006, 12:17 PM

Feb. 24, 2006 — -- Two premed students and a bunch of French soldiers spent the morning simulating a bird flu "pandemic" in the southeastern city of Lyon. The drill, rolled out in three parts, tested France's preparedness in case of an outbreak.

The test may soon become a reality if the H5N1 virus spreads to humans in western Europe. Right now, only wild swans and turkey flocks have gotten the deadly flu in Europe. Humans have been infected as far west as Turkey.

Watching the exercise unfold on a TV screen, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said, "Anticipation and transparence help minimize drama." For him, the drill was part of the necessary steps "to guarantee a full-proof response."

With health officials and journalists, the large gathering witnessed a plane land at the far corner of the Lyon airport before a hazmatlike crew sprang into action.

The pilot informed the control tower that two passengers were sick and that bird flu might be the cause.

In the drill, one patient was supposedly a vet while the other was a feather salesman for a duvet company. The plane, flying from a random city in Southeast Asia, was automatically quarantined and the two "patients" donned masks.

Doctors in full protective gear boarded the plane, and the "patients" were evacuated to the nearby hospital. Meanwhile, airport personnel catalogued every passenger's identity to keep track of them in the coming weeks.

A flock of government officials along with a gaggle of journalists then followed the "sick" patients to the hospital.

Doctors from the infectious-disease unit swept in and wheeled each patient to an isolated, airtight room. The hospital then kicked into high gear, preparing wards for other possible bird flu cases.

A faux news conference was held with doctors informing the public that test results would reveal whether or not the passengers had the bird flu in six hours.

In the interest of time, the bird flu drill ended with a tour of the nearby drug company, Sanofi-Pasteur. In the case of a pandemic, Sanofi would crank out bird flu medicines.