Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 81: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of other countries stockpiling anti-viral drugs to combat a possible pandemic of A1 flu virus, the preparations which have been done by her Department and the Health Service Executive to ensure Ireland could cope with such a pandemic. [7533/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Avian influenza, 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 contingency plans in place and all questions relating to these plans should be referred to my colleague the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan.

The health sector's role in relation to avian flu relates to the human health implications that would arise were there to be an outbreak of avian flu in this country. My Department is working very closely with the Department of Agriculture and Food in this context and there are ongoing meetings between officials to discuss issues of mutual concern. The Department of Agriculture and Food is also an active participant in my Department's influenza pandemic expert group.

The overall aims of pandemic planning are to reduce mortality and morbidity, 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 Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive are working closely together on pandemic planning on a number of fronts; the influenza pandemic expert group is updating expert guidance and the pandemic influenza operational response plan is being updated in line with the most up to date expert advice. This work is being progressed through working and implementation groups established by the Health Service Executive within the following functional areas: surveillance, health services, public health measures, vaccines and antivirals, etc., communications, laboratories and materials management.

The Department of Health and Children has established a standing inter-departmental committee to consider issues which go beyond the health aspects of an influenza pandemic, for example, border controls and suspension of travel, travel advice, school closures, suspension of other gatherings, possible security issues etc. This committee will assist the Department of Health and Children with planning for such an emergency and will also be available in the event of an emergency arising.

The main treatment for pandemic influenza is antiviral drugs. Antivirals can shorten the duration of the disease and alleviate symptoms. They are usually not considered effective after 48 hours from the onset of illness. Recommendations for the stockpiling of antivirals are kept under constant review by the influenza pandemic expert group.

An emergency supply of over 45,000 treatment packs of the antiviral drug, Tamiflu®, was purchased in 2004. A further 1 million treatment packs of Tamiflu® are being stockpiled. This quantity is sufficient to treat 25% of the population. Some 600,000 packs have already been delivered and the remaining 400,000 packs will be delivered this year.

Arrangements have also been made to procure a supply of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, oseltamivir phosphate powder, to treat children aged between one and five years of age. It has also been agreed that additional supplies of the other suitable antiviral drug, Relenza®, should be stockpiled. Arrangements for the purchase of this additional stock are being finalised.

The H5N1 vaccine could offer some protection against an H5N1 flu strain. Arrangements are being made to procure a strategic stockpile, which could be used as a first line of defence for priority groups, such as key health care workers and other essential workers, pending manufacture of a vaccine against the exact pandemic flu strain.

Vaccination will be the primary public health intervention in the event of flu 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 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 which are 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. The Department of Health and Children is therefore actively pursuing an advanced purchase order for a pandemic strain vaccine.