Absence Of Drugs To Combat Avian Flu Raises Concern, Wales

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Article Date: 07 Apr 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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Plaid Cymru politicians have expressed their concern about the readiness of the Labour Assembly Government should an outbreak of bird flu occur in Wales.

Plaid has revealed through a number of written questions that no drugs to combat any outbreak of avian flu are stored in Wales. The questions also show that the sufficient doses ring fenced for use in Wales to tackle any outbreak won't be available until this September.

Plaid's Shadow Health Minister Helen Mary Jones AM said:

"While it would be unwise to overreact to the case in Scotland, we must ensure we are ready for any potential outbreak of bird flu. Last year a senior health expert voiced his concern that the NHS in Wales would find it difficult to react to any potential flu epidemic; we must inject a sense of urgency in the Labour Assembly Government and their plans. Forward planning is needed to ensure that the location of anti-viral drugs that are designated for the Welsh population but kept in a location in England are available to be distributed to any area of Wales within the 48 hour time-frame that is required for the anti-viral drugs to be effective."

Plaid's Shadow Countryside Minister Elin Jones AM requested that members of the public were vigilant regarding wild birds in Wales, and report any suspicious bird deaths to the authorities.

Elin Jones commented:

"The Countryside Minister has to give us assurances that he is aware of the location of all poultry farms. Unless he can make this assurance how can he guarantee that any governmental directive including vaccination or enforced housing will be carried out across Wales. Current requirements only compel poultry keepers with over 50 birds need to be registered. The Minister needs to assure that this requirement has been met and to indicate what assessment has been made of the number and location of smaller holdings with less than 50 birds."

"Many poultry farmers keep free range poultry, if enforced housing is required the Minister needs to stipulate the duration of such a requirement and to assess if all keepers have the capacity to keep their poultry indoors. I have tabled a number of written questions to get the answers from the Minister."

1. Plaid questions to Health Minister Brian Gibbons:

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the stocks of the antiviral drug Tamiflu held by the NHS Wales. (WAQ 46274)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): Will the Minister list the surgeries, hospitals and/or other NHS properties in Wales that hold stocks of the antiviral drug Tamiflu and the number of courses of the drug held in each location (WAQ 46275)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What preparations has the Minister made for the distribution of the antiviral drug Tamiflu by NHS Wales (WAQ 46276)

Brian Gibbons:

At the end of March 2006, we will have 360,000 courses ring-fenced for use in Wales with all deliveries completed by end of September. The order for 730,000 courses (sufficient to meet the expected clinical attack rate of 25% of the population) has been adjusted recently to take advantage of an antiviral preparation that is suitable for very young children. This means that the total order for adults is 704,450 courses and delivery is scheduled to be completed at end September 2006.

Deliveries of antivirals have been, and will continue to be, made to a central store in England. Although no antivirals for use against pandemic influenza are in Wales at present, we are able to access our stock at any time should that be necessary. We are finalising arrangements to receive an interim delivery to a central store in Wales this spring.

We are also working with the National Public Health Service, Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts on the most appropriate holding and distribution arrangements within Wales to ensure that antivirals are accessible locally and readily at the time of need.

A small supply of antivirals has been made readily available to the National Public Health Service (NPHS) who would lead the local health response should an avian influenza outbreak occur in Wales. These antivirals will be used to help protect those occupational groups at risk of exposure.

http://www.plaidcymru.org

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