This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/6158310.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Experts call for better flu plans | Experts call for better flu plans |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Leading scientists say the UK government is failing to take advantage of scientific developments in the fight to prevent a flu pandemic. | Leading scientists say the UK government is failing to take advantage of scientific developments in the fight to prevent a flu pandemic. |
| A Royal Society and Academy of Medical Sciences report says more than one anti-viral drug should be stockpiled. | |
| It warns the H5N1 virus can develop resistance to Tamiflu, and says the drug Relenza should also be stockpiled. | It warns the H5N1 virus can develop resistance to Tamiflu, and says the drug Relenza should also be stockpiled. |
| Tamiflu's makers said there were only two instances of H5N1 patients showing resistance to the drug after treatment. | |
| The report also calls for a special scientific advisor - to work alongside the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser - to advise ministers on planning for pandemic flu. | |
| We are concerned that it is not updating its plans as the landscape of what we know about influenza changes Sir John Skehel Analysis: Bird flu threat Pandemic influenza - read the report [1MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | We are concerned that it is not updating its plans as the landscape of what we know about influenza changes Sir John Skehel Analysis: Bird flu threat Pandemic influenza - read the report [1MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| It also said the expert should work alongside the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser, to advise ministers. | It also said the expert should work alongside the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser, to advise ministers. |
| And it calls on the government to work more with industry on vaccine production. | And it calls on the government to work more with industry on vaccine production. |
| Sir John Skehel, chair of the report's working group, said: "We are concerned that decisions are being made, as the UK prepares for a possible pandemic, that fail to take account of expert advice. | Sir John Skehel, chair of the report's working group, said: "We are concerned that decisions are being made, as the UK prepares for a possible pandemic, that fail to take account of expert advice. |
| "For example, the decision to continue to stockpile just one antiviral drug is a major concern. This needs to be reconsidered. | "For example, the decision to continue to stockpile just one antiviral drug is a major concern. This needs to be reconsidered. |
| "New evidence that H5N1 can develop resistance to Tamiflu indicates that a combination of antivirals should be stockpiled by the UK for the most effective management of a pandemic." | "New evidence that H5N1 can develop resistance to Tamiflu indicates that a combination of antivirals should be stockpiled by the UK for the most effective management of a pandemic." |
| He said the government was right to order Tamiflu in early 2005 - a stockpile of 14.6 million courses of anti-viral drugs is being built up | He said the government was right to order Tamiflu in early 2005 - a stockpile of 14.6 million courses of anti-viral drugs is being built up |
| But Sir John added: "We are concerned that it is not updating its plans as the landscape of what we know about influenza changes." | But Sir John added: "We are concerned that it is not updating its plans as the landscape of what we know about influenza changes." |
| Roche, the company which makes Tamiflu, said in a statement: "Resistant mutations of H5N1 virus have been detected in two patients at the end of treatment with Tamiflu." | |
| By the end of the year, Roche would have the capacity to produce 400 million courses of Tamiflu per year, the statement added. | |
| It would be up to the government and Department of Health (DoH) to determine strategies "along the lines of the principles established and outlined in the pandemic plan", it said. | |
| The RSM said the government should consider increasing the size of the stockpile and should think about using the drug as a prophylaxis, a preventative treatment. | The RSM said the government should consider increasing the size of the stockpile and should think about using the drug as a prophylaxis, a preventative treatment. |
| 'Most prepared' | 'Most prepared' |
| The report calls on the DoH to bring together academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines which could be used to protect the public in the event of a pandemic. | |
| It says it would not be possible to manufacture enough influenza vaccines globally in a pandemic - because experts will not know the make-up of a pandemic virus until it starts to spread meaning it would not be possible to immunise everyone. | It says it would not be possible to manufacture enough influenza vaccines globally in a pandemic - because experts will not know the make-up of a pandemic virus until it starts to spread meaning it would not be possible to immunise everyone. |
| However, the report adds that limited vaccine supplies can "go-further" if they are combined with adjuvants - agents which boost the effectiveness of a vaccine. | However, the report adds that limited vaccine supplies can "go-further" if they are combined with adjuvants - agents which boost the effectiveness of a vaccine. |
| Sir John said: "We find limited evidence that the UK government is engaging with industry to research and develop new vaccines. | Sir John said: "We find limited evidence that the UK government is engaging with industry to research and develop new vaccines. |
| "Encouraging researchers and drug manufacturers to share information would speed up the development of adjuvants and vaccines to make the UK more responsive during a pandemic." | "Encouraging researchers and drug manufacturers to share information would speed up the development of adjuvants and vaccines to make the UK more responsive during a pandemic." |
| He added: "The UK is recognised as one of the most prepared countries in the world however research in this area must continue and up-to-date scientific information should be central to the government's decision making process. | He added: "The UK is recognised as one of the most prepared countries in the world however research in this area must continue and up-to-date scientific information should be central to the government's decision making process. |
| "It will ensure we are prepared not only for a possible influenza pandemic, but also for any future emerging infectious diseases which may affect the UK." | "It will ensure we are prepared not only for a possible influenza pandemic, but also for any future emerging infectious diseases which may affect the UK." |
| 'Adequate stockpile' | 'Adequate stockpile' |
| But Professor Lindsey Davies, the Department of Health's Director of Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, said: "We are already addressing many of the report's recommendations in our ongoing pandemic preparedness planning. | But Professor Lindsey Davies, the Department of Health's Director of Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, said: "We are already addressing many of the report's recommendations in our ongoing pandemic preparedness planning. |
| "We will consider the recommendations of the report as we continue to develop this work." | "We will consider the recommendations of the report as we continue to develop this work." |
| She said the UK would continue to work with international partners, including the European Union and the WHO, on preparedness vaccine development. | She said the UK would continue to work with international partners, including the European Union and the WHO, on preparedness vaccine development. |
| Professor Davies added: "Our antiviral strategy is informed by international consensus and expert advice, and the current stockpile should be adequate to treat all those who fall ill in a pandemic of similar proportions to those in the 20th Century." | Professor Davies added: "Our antiviral strategy is informed by international consensus and expert advice, and the current stockpile should be adequate to treat all those who fall ill in a pandemic of similar proportions to those in the 20th Century." |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said further action was needed. | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said further action was needed. |
| "If you believe, as I do, that there's a major risk of a pandemic flu on the scale of the 1918 pandemic of Spanish flu, we should think about stockpiling more antiviral drugs, stockpiling face-masks. | "If you believe, as I do, that there's a major risk of a pandemic flu on the scale of the 1918 pandemic of Spanish flu, we should think about stockpiling more antiviral drugs, stockpiling face-masks. |
| "And we should think about getting an H5N1 vaccine now, on the basis it will offer limited protection. | "And we should think about getting an H5N1 vaccine now, on the basis it will offer limited protection. |
| Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb said: "A national bird flu strategy must take into account the latest scientific advice on what will best tackle any pandemic. | Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb said: "A national bird flu strategy must take into account the latest scientific advice on what will best tackle any pandemic. |
| "We cannot wait until after a case has been discovered to check if our contingency plans are the most effective to deal with this potential threat." | "We cannot wait until after a case has been discovered to check if our contingency plans are the most effective to deal with this potential threat." |