Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 256: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the further measures which have been undertaken to protect human health and safety in view of the spread of avian flu in Turkey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2142/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 273: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps her Department has taken to combat a nationwide onset of the H5N1 strain of influenza or what is more commonly known as bird flu, to avert a crisis for the health service here in view of reported European outbreaks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40291/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 273 together.

Avian influenza or bird flu is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian influenza in birds and mammals other than humans. That Department has put in place a range of measures aimed at maintaining Ireland's avian flu-free status and all questions relating to these measures should be referred to my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan.

According to the World Health Organisation, the spread of the H5N1 virus to poultry in new areas since late 2003 is of concern as it increases opportunities for further human cases to occur. However, all evidence to date indicates that the H5N1 virus does not spread easily from birds to infect humans. The WHO level of pandemic alert remains unchanged at phase 3: a virus new to humans is causing infections, but does not spread easily from one person to another.

My Department and the Health Service Executive are closely monitoring avian influenza developments with particular reference to the public health implications. The HSE health protection surveillance centre has published guidance for the health system for use in the event of an avian influenza outbreak in animals in Ireland. Guidance on the investigation and management of suspected human cases of avian influenza is also available on www.hpsc.ie.

The overall aims of influenza pandemic planning are to reduce mortality and morbidity and 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 and my Department and the Health Service Executive are working closely together on pandemic planning. A model plan for influenza pandemic preparedness was finalised in 2002 and was based on best practice at that time. The influenza pandemic expert group is updating the expert guidance contained in this plan. In addition, a generic public health emergency plan for the health system was prepared in 2004. This included disease specific operational response plans, ORPs, in relation to SARS, pandemic influenza and smallpox.

These ORPs identify key actions which must be undertaken before and during a major public health threat. The responses are structured within the following functional areas — surveillance, health services, public health measures, vaccines-antivirals, etc., communications, laboratories and materials management.

The pandemic influenza operational response plan is being updated to reflect the most up to date advice of the influenza pandemic expert group and the World Health Organisation, WHO. My Department is also in the process of establishing a standing interdepartmental committee to consider issues which go beyond the health aspects of an influenza pandemic, for example, border controls and suspension of travel, travel advices, school closures, suspension of other gatherings, possible security issues, etc. This committee will assist my Department with planning for such an emergency and will also be available in the event of an emergency arising.

Vaccination will be the primary public health intervention in the event of an influenza pandemic and our plans to deal with a pandemic call for vaccines to be provided to cover the entire population as soon as a vaccine is available. Since influenza pandemics occur when a new flu virus emerges to which people have no immunity, the vaccine can only be manufactured once the new strain emerges.

Despite developments taking place at international level seeking to expedite the pandemic vaccine production process, it is anticipated that it will take at least four to six months from the time a pandemic flu strain emerges to develop and manufacture a vaccine. My Department is therefore pursuing an advanced purchase order for a pandemic strain vaccine. A vaccine is in development which could offer some protection against an H5N1 flu strain. International experts consider that a stockpile of H5N1 vaccine could be used as a first line of defence for priority groups while a vaccine against the exact pandemic influenza strain is manufactured. My Department is actively pursuing the purchase of a limited supply of this vaccine.

The main treatment for pandemic influenza is antiviral drugs. Antivirals can shorten the duration of the disease and alleviate symptoms. They are not usually considered effective after 48 hours from the onset of illness. An emergency supply of more than 45,000 treatment packs of antivirals — Tamiflu — was purchased in 2004. A further 1 million treatment packs of antivirals — Tamiflu — are being stockpiled. This quantity is sufficient to treat 25% of the population. Approximately 600,000 packs have already been delivered. The remaining 400,000 packs will be delivered in 2006.