Updated flu pandemic contingency plan launched
Current avian influenza is the most likely seedbed of a human pandemic |
Pharmacists, as well as GPs, might provide antiviral drugs in the event of an influenza pandemic, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said at the launch of the revised
UK influenza contingency plans this week.
He also said that the Department of Health was looking into whether antivirals
could be prescribed to groups of patients, rather than on a one-to-one
basis.
Professor Donaldson emphasised that,
although the most likely seedbed of a flu pandemic was the H5N1 avian
flu virus having adapted or mixed with human flu, it is also essential
to be wary of other sources. For instance, H5N1 may adapt and become
easily transmissible to people or another strain may cause a pandemic. “We
can’t have tunnel
vision,” he warned.
It was also announced that the DoH has
issued a tender for a contract to supply a vaccine, once the strain of
any pandemic virus is known. Professor Donaldson said that such a “sleeping
contract” would allow companies to prepare to produce vaccines
without fear of wasted effort and the Government to be certain of a supply
in the event of a pandemic. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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