NEWS: Britain reveals flu pandemic plan

The UK Government has revealed plans to build a huge stockpile of drugs, millions of doses, to ward off a flu pandemic which is threatening. Quarantine measures have also been drawn up as well as emergency services ready to act. Ministers said without the antiviral drugs an outbreak could kill 50,000.



It's great to see plenty already being done about this, although at first that the stock is supposed to only be enough for quarter of the population was worrying but that would mostly be more than enough.

These signs certainly point to many expecting this very soon, even with WHO announcing earlier that the pandemic would likely not be as bad as first thought, but it's good to see no one is taking any chances.

Last week London's mayor Ken Livingstone announced he was purchasing anti-virul drugs. He said there was an expected 8 week wait for the drugs and that was for about 20,000 doses for emergency services only.

This is not a vaccination it's a treatment.

[edit on 1-3-2005 by John bull 1]

Originally posted by John bull 1
This is not a vaccination it's a treatment.

I have to say I'm pretty clueless on this subject except for knowing the broad strokes so to speak, and knowing it's supposedly going to kill many.

How do you feel about the numbers they've obtained?

[edit on 1-3-2005 by John Nada]

We are still unsure what the Avian Flue will mutate into, so it is imposable to have a vaccine ready. Though when we have more firm information we will be able to create a vaccine and inoculations for Key workers / the Young / elderly.

My Best advice is that in the event of a break out, stay away from public places and monitor your own health closely. If you live in London avoid travel by public transport. If you have to go to a public place wear gloves and a mouth/nose mask.

Above all remember that Germs from a sneeze can reach you at 30 feet away in less than 10 seconds.

Neon Haze.

They can't create a vaccination until they know which flu virus it is. The current avian flu is H5N1 but it will have to change before it becomes a human flu. Current vaccination stoctpiles being created in France, Italy, and the U.S.A are for a generic H5 vaccine which might be used as a primer shot as it takes two shots to be vaccinated. The hope still depends on quick production of the full vaccine once the type has been recognised. This then could be used as the second shot in countries using the generic H5 primer.

Originally posted by John bull 1
They can't create a vaccination until they know which flu virus it is. The current avian flu is H5N1 but it will have to change before it becomes a human flu. Current vaccination stoctpiles being created in France, Italy, and the U.S.A are for a generic H5 vaccine which might be used as a primer shot as it takes two shots to be vaccinated. The hope still depends on quick production of the full vaccine once the type has been recognised. This then could be used as the second shot in countries using the generic H5 primer.

Hey there John...

Seems like we are offering similar advice

Neon.

Hopefully the threat never materializes. Unfortunatelly I fear that it will, which makes me wonder what the US government is doing in response to the threat? Then again it has nothing to do with defense spending and we are cutting home programs just to make a budget this year. So probably nothing.