Giuseppe
Emeritus
Pandemic flu drug stockpile to be doubled
Stockpiles of drugs to combat pandemic flu are to be doubled so half the population can be treated in the event of a worldwide epidemic.
By Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor - Last Updated: 3:53PM BST 05 Aug 2008
Adverts will be published on Wednesday inviting drug companies to bid for contracts to supply antivirals, which can reduce the length and severity of flu symptoms.
Currently the UK only has enough stockpiled to treat one in four of the population.
The stockpile of antibiotics which will be used if flu victims develop complications such as pneumonia will also be increased.
It is feared up to 50,000 people in the UK would die if another flu pandemic strikes.
The drugs will be at the forefront of any defence against pandemic flu in the first months of the outbreak as scientists race to produce a vaccine.
Experts say it is only a matter of time until another flu pandemic sweeps the world killing millions.
Most believe H5N1 bird flu is the most likely strain of flu that will spark the next pandemic and will mix with human flu or change in some way so it can be passed easily between humans.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "In November 2007 the Secretary of State launched the National Framework for responding to an Influenza Pandemic and announced plans for increasing the stockpiles of countermeasures for UK preparedness.
"We have today launched invitations to tender for antivirals and antibiotics. This is an important step in delivering the countermeasures strategy. The Government's ability to respond effectively to an influenza pandemic will be significantly increased when the current procurement is completed. It will ensure that the UK continues to be at the forefront of international preparedness."
The World Health Organisation has reported that Britain's pandemic flu preparations are among the best in the world.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2505389/Pandemic-flu-drug-stockpile-to-be-doubled.html
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Stockpiles of drugs to combat pandemic flu are to be doubled so half the population can be treated in the event of a worldwide epidemic.
By Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor - Last Updated: 3:53PM BST 05 Aug 2008
Adverts will be published on Wednesday inviting drug companies to bid for contracts to supply antivirals, which can reduce the length and severity of flu symptoms.
Currently the UK only has enough stockpiled to treat one in four of the population.
The stockpile of antibiotics which will be used if flu victims develop complications such as pneumonia will also be increased.
It is feared up to 50,000 people in the UK would die if another flu pandemic strikes.
The drugs will be at the forefront of any defence against pandemic flu in the first months of the outbreak as scientists race to produce a vaccine.
Experts say it is only a matter of time until another flu pandemic sweeps the world killing millions.
Most believe H5N1 bird flu is the most likely strain of flu that will spark the next pandemic and will mix with human flu or change in some way so it can be passed easily between humans.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "In November 2007 the Secretary of State launched the National Framework for responding to an Influenza Pandemic and announced plans for increasing the stockpiles of countermeasures for UK preparedness.
"We have today launched invitations to tender for antivirals and antibiotics. This is an important step in delivering the countermeasures strategy. The Government's ability to respond effectively to an influenza pandemic will be significantly increased when the current procurement is completed. It will ensure that the UK continues to be at the forefront of international preparedness."
The World Health Organisation has reported that Britain's pandemic flu preparations are among the best in the world.
-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2505389/Pandemic-flu-drug-stockpile-to-be-doubled.html
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