Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of doses of Tamiflu and Relenza and the number and type of face masks the Government has stockpiled for use in the event of an outbreak of avian related human flu. [40005/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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, have now been stockpiled as part of our pandemic preparedness strategy. This quantity is sufficient to treat 25% of the population and is in line with international trends. We have also stockpiled 63kg of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (oseltamivir phosphate powder). This will allow for treatment of approximately 60,000 children aged between 1 and 5 years of age.

We are also stockpiling 706,000 courses of the other suitable antiviral drug, Relenza. This is sufficient to cover 20% of the population over the age of seven. This antiviral can be used in the event of resistance developing to the first line drug, Tamiflu, and will also provide cover if the clinical attack rate is higher than 25%. This stockpile will be complete by September 2007; the first 70,000 courses have been delivered.

The Influenza Pandemic Expert Group is finalising advice on infection control, with reference to recommendations from the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Surgical masks will be recommended for use by health care workers for close patient contact (e.g. within 3 feet). The Health Service Executive is now making arrangements to stockpile masks and other necessary personal protective equipment for health care workers.