Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 125: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the measures in place to ensure that Ireland is prepared for a possible pandemic of avian influenza; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24020/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I take it the question relates to a possible human flu pandemic. For the sake of clarity, avian flu is primarily a disease of birds. To date, there have been a small number of human cases of infection with the avian flu (H5N1) virus in situations where there has been very close contact with infected birds. There is no evidence of efficient human to human transmission. I would like to draw a very clear distinction between avian flu and the possibility of a future human flu pandemic. Experts advise that such a pandemic may arise from the avian flu (H5N1) virus, but this is by no means inevitable. Nevertheless, the pandemic threat is real: while neither the timing nor the severity of the next pandemic can be predicted, experts advise it is a matter of when it arrives not if.

My Department and the Health Service Executive published the National Pandemic Influenza Plan on 15th January 2007. The purpose of the plan is to limit the effects of a potential pandemic and to inform the public about pandemic influenza, to explain what the Government and the health services are doing to prepare for a possible pandemic, and to give information on what members of the public need to do if there is a pandemic.

Also published on 15th January was Pandemic Preparedness for Ireland: Advice of the Pandemic Influenza Expert Group. This document outlines clinical guidance and provides public health advice to health professionals and others involved in pandemic influenza preparedness and response. It was published as a draft consultation document. The consultation period is now closed and the Expert Group is reviewing the guidance with reference to latest international developments. The revised version will be published within the next few months.

The National Pandemic Influenza Plan will be updated as required to reflect the most up to date advice of the Expert Group and international developments. The health service response to pandemic influenza is based on eight core elements: communications strategy, telephone hotline, responsibilities of the public, surveillance, antiviral drugs, pandemic vaccine, reorganisation of health services, and essential supplies. These elements are detailed in the plan.

The development of a robust emergency plan based on the National Pandemic Influenza Plan is a priority for the Health Service Executive. The HSE National Service Plan sets out key deliverables for the development of specific emergency plans for an influenza pandemic across all directorates and functions. In particular these plans should address:—

For the National Hospitals Office: bed capacity, ventilation capacity, role of private hospitals, ambulance transport requirements;

For Primary, Community and Continuing Care: redeployment of staff to support care settings and supports;

For Population Health: plans for surveillance, contact tracing, and management of cases.

All directorates and functions across the HSE are required to address the issue of redeployment of staff to manage essential services and business continuity issues. In addition, National Procurement will manage the purchase, storage and distribution of the National Stockpile of Medicines and Supplies. Human Resources will manage the industrial relations agenda arising from the pandemic influenza plan. ICT will design, scope and implement the information technology solutions required, for example around the telephone hotline.

The National Pandemic Influenza Plan concentrates on the health response to pandemic influenza but also provides some advice on the planning which must take place across all sectors of society. In this context, my Department established a Standing Inter-Departmental Committee in 2006 to provide advice on non-health areas of public policy or public services to ensure a coordinated cross -Government response. In February 2007, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment published a guidance document for businesses on preparing for a pandemic.

The National Public Health Emergency Team is the forum for managing the interface between my Department and the HSE during the planning and response phases of a public health emergency. The team is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department. It met for the first time in October 2006 and meets on a quarterly basis or as required during the planning phase. The National Public Health Emergency Team met last week. Significant progress over the last year was noted, but it was also recognised that there is a need to continue work on pandemic planning over the next two to three years, with the focus on cross-Government response and detailed planning at the local level.