Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether there are sufficient stockpiles of anti-virals here to protect against the imminent arrival of bird flu particularly in view of a recent statement (details supplied) which warned that waiting until an outbreak occurs to acquire anti-virals is ill-advised as it would be impossible to stockpile after an outbreak occurs due to protection and supply chain constraints. [11729/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Avian flu, or "bird flu", is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. It can affect all species of birds and other animals and can very rarely infect humans. 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 human 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 ( H5NI) virus, but this is by no means inevitable. Nevertheless, the pandemic threat is real and it is for such an eventuality that my Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) published the National Pandemic Influenza Plan in January 2007. I can confirm that our pandemic preparedness strategy includes the stockpiling of antivirals and these stockpiles are in place.

An emergency supply of over 45,000 treatment packs of antivirals (Tamiflu®) was purchased in 2004. A further 1 million treatment packs of Tamiflu® have since been stockpiled. This quantity is sufficient to treat 25% of the population. The health services have also stockpiled a supply of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) which will allow for treatment of almost 110,000 children.

Recommendations for the stockpiling of antivirals are kept under constant review by the Pandemic Influenza Expert Group. The Expert Group advised that a quantity of zanamivir (Relenza®) should be stockpiled in addition to oseltamivir (Tamiflu®). 706,000 courses of Relenza® have now been stockpiled by the HSE.

The quantity of antivirals in stock or on order is enough to treat almost 2 million people. This compares very favourably with other countries across Europe and beyond.

If an outbreak of avian influenza occurs in birds in Ireland, antivirals will be used in the prevention and control of avian influenza in occupational groups and other contacts exposed to dead or diseased birds. In a pandemic situation antivirals will primarily be used for treatment of influenza cases: -

At the start of a pandemic in Ireland (when isolated cases or small outbreaks are occurring, and when transmission is not occurring efficiently), antivirals will be used for treatment of influenza cases and short-term prophylaxis to prevent infection developing in close contacts including family members and health care workers; In the event of a full scale pandemic, antivirals will be used for treatment only.

As the definition of risk is likely to change over time, recommendations for the use of antivirals are kept under review by the Pandemic Influenza Expert Group.