Written answers

Tuesday, 21 March 2006

Department of Health and Children

Avian Flu

8:00 pm

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 260: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the emergency arrangements in place to deal with a possible bird flu epidemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10753/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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For the sake of clarity, avian flu or H5N1 is primarily a disease of birds. To date, there have been a very small number of human cases of H5N1 infection documented, in situations where there has been very close contact with infected birds. There is no evidence of human to human transmission.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian flu in birds and mammals other than humans and has put in place a range of measures aimed at maintaining Ireland's avian flu-free status. 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.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is an active participant in my Department's influenza pandemic expert group. A subgroup of the expert group has developed guidance documents 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 has also been developed and circulated within the health system. These guidance documents are available on the HSE health protection surveillance centre website, www.hpsc.ie.

The overall aims of influenza pandemic planning are to reduce mortality and morbidity and minimise the resulting disruption to society. In line with information and evidence available internationally, my Department has consistently stated that the consequences of a global pandemic are likely to be serious. Pandemic planning can only mitigate the effects. There is a very clear distinction between the current avian flu outbreak and the possibility of a future pandemic influenza in the human population. Experts advise that such a pandemic may arise as a result of the current H5N1 avian flu situation, but this is by no means inevitable.

My Department and the Health Service Executive are working closely together on pandemic planning. This work is ongoing 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/implementation groups established by the HSE to address actions within the functional areas of surveillance, health services, public health measures, vaccines/antivirals etc., communications, laboratories and materials management. My Department has established a standing interdepartmental committee to consider issues which go beyond the health aspects of an influenza pandemic and arrangements have been made to procure a stockpile of H5N1 vaccine for key health care workers and other essential workers. My Department is also actively pursuing an advanced purchase order for a pandemic strain vaccine and we are stockpiling a million treatment packs of the antiviral drug, Tamiflu, 600,000 packs of which have already been delivered. The remaining 400,000 packs will be delivered this year. Arrangements have also been made to purchase a supply of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, oseltamivir phosphate powder, to treat children aged between one to five years of age. Arrangements are also being finalised for the stockpiling of additional supplies of the other suitable antiviral drug, Relenza.

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