Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to deal with a possible outbreak of avian flu. [9249/05]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 83: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the stock of flu vaccines available to deal with any flu pandemic; if it is intended to increase these stocks; when this will be done; if she has satisfied herself that all appropriate steps are in place to deal with any such pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9389/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 83 together.

The overall aims of pandemic influenza preparedness planning are to reduce morbidity and mortality, and to minimise the resulting disruption to society. However, the consequences of a global pandemic are still likely to be serious. Pandemic planning can only mitigate the effects.

The influenza pandemic expert group which is reviewing and updating Ireland's 2002 influenza pandemic preparedness plan has been reconvened. At its first reconvened meeting, the expert group agreed a programme of work to progress the updating of the pandemic plan. Once finalised the updated plan will be published.

Our 2002 plan was based on the World Health Organisation, WHO, blueprint for an influenza pandemic plan published in 1999. It addresses a range of issues including prevention strategies, scientific and medical issues, and communications. The WHO plan is currently being updated to incorporate new scientific data and experience obtained during recent outbreaks. Our pandemic plan will be modified in line with these recommendations once they are agreed and published by the World Health Organisation.

Vaccination is the principal measure for preventing influenza and reducing the impact of epidemics. It will be the primary public health intervention in the event of an influenza pandemic. However, the production of a vaccine tailored to a pandemic influenza strain could take six to nine months. Developments are underway at international level seeking to expedite this process.

Pending the availability of virus specific vaccines, antiviral drugs will be the only influenza specific medical intervention available for use in a pandemic. Antivirals can be used for prophylaxis — prevention — and for treatment.

The Government has decided that antiviral drugs should be stockpiled. The expert group reviewed recommendations for the use of antivirals in line with international guidance at its meeting on 24 February 2005. Following consideration of the expert group's advice, I have directed that 1 million treatment packs of oseltamivir — Tamiflu — should be stockpiled. This quantity is sufficient to treat 25% of the population and is in line with international trends. The Health Service Executive has been so advised and procurement arrangements are underway. I am confident that 600,000 packs will have been delivered by the end of this year — this is sufficient to treat 15% of the population. The remaining 400,000 packs will be delivered in 2006.

A national antiviral stockpile would be used to treat priority groups. Prioritisation is essential if both morbidity and mortality are to be reduced, and essential services are to be maintained thereby minimising as far as possible the disruption to society which might result from a pandemic. The priority groups include, for example, individuals who are hospitalised with influenza, people who may be more vulnerable to the virus, and key workers in essential services.

It should be noted, however, that pandemic planning is a dynamic process and the definition of risk is likely to change over time. This means that the recommendations for use of antivirals must be kept under review. In particular, the expert group will need to review the epidemiological data before final recommendations are decided in the setting of an imminent pandemic. The decision making process will be guided at all times by relevant expert advice from the European Commission and the World Health Organisation.