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| Second flu drug in pandemic plans | Second flu drug in pandemic plans |
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| A second anti-viral drug is being stockpiled to treat people in the event of a flu pandemic, ministers say. | A second anti-viral drug is being stockpiled to treat people in the event of a flu pandemic, ministers say. |
| The government has bought 10.6 million doses of Relenza in addition to another 7.6 million doses of Tamiflu - the drug that has been stockpiled since 2005. | The government has bought 10.6 million doses of Relenza in addition to another 7.6 million doses of Tamiflu - the drug that has been stockpiled since 2005. |
| It comes after a UK study last year raised concerns about resistance to Tamiflu in the H5N1 strain of bird flu which has spread in south east Asia. | It comes after a UK study last year raised concerns about resistance to Tamiflu in the H5N1 strain of bird flu which has spread in south east Asia. |
| The UK will now have enough anti-viral drugs to treat half the population. | The UK will now have enough anti-viral drugs to treat half the population. |
| To date there have been 403 human cases of the H5N1 bird flu virus and 254 deaths, mostly in south east Asia. | To date there have been 403 human cases of the H5N1 bird flu virus and 254 deaths, mostly in south east Asia. |
| The increased flu-drug stockpile means that we should be able to treat everyone who falls ill in a pandemic Public health minister, Dawn Primarolo | The increased flu-drug stockpile means that we should be able to treat everyone who falls ill in a pandemic Public health minister, Dawn Primarolo |
| However the virus cannot easily pass from human to human at present. | However the virus cannot easily pass from human to human at present. |
| So far, many of those who have been infected have been poultry workers who have come into intimate contact with infected birds. | So far, many of those who have been infected have been poultry workers who have come into intimate contact with infected birds. |
| Experts warn that if the virus acquires the ability to pass from human to human, then it will pose a potential threat to millions across the globe. | Experts warn that if the virus acquires the ability to pass from human to human, then it will pose a potential threat to millions across the globe. |
| Without antiviral treatment, estimates suggest that up to 750,000 people could die in the UK during a pandemic. | Without antiviral treatment, estimates suggest that up to 750,000 people could die in the UK during a pandemic. |
| Treatment | Treatment |
| Tamiflu and another drug, Relenza, work by inhibiting a key part of flu called neuraminidase (N1) which is responsible for the release of the virus from infected human cells and allows the disease to spread. | Tamiflu and another drug, Relenza, work by inhibiting a key part of flu called neuraminidase (N1) which is responsible for the release of the virus from infected human cells and allows the disease to spread. |
| The UK had previously stockpiled 14.6 million doses of Tamiflu - enough for a quarter of the population. | The UK had previously stockpiled 14.6 million doses of Tamiflu - enough for a quarter of the population. |
| But in 2006, leading scientists warned that more than one anti-viral drug should be stockpiled because of potential resistance. | But in 2006, leading scientists warned that more than one anti-viral drug should be stockpiled because of potential resistance. |
| Research published in the journal Nature last year also concluded that no single drug would be enough to treat all the victims of a global flu pandemic. | Research published in the journal Nature last year also concluded that no single drug would be enough to treat all the victims of a global flu pandemic. |
| The Medical Research Council study characterised a mutation in the structure of N1 that has been observed in human cases of H5N1. | |
| They found then when this mutation occurred the virus became resistant to Tamiflu, while still remaining susceptible to Relenza. | They found then when this mutation occurred the virus became resistant to Tamiflu, while still remaining susceptible to Relenza. |
| The same mutation was also found to produce resistance in seasonal influenza. | |
| Once the new arrangements are in place - which will take a few months - there will be 33.5 million doses of anti-virals available, the Department of Health said. | Once the new arrangements are in place - which will take a few months - there will be 33.5 million doses of anti-virals available, the Department of Health said. |
| Public health minister, Dawn Primarolo, said: "The UK is already widely recognised as one of the best prepared countries in the world. | Public health minister, Dawn Primarolo, said: "The UK is already widely recognised as one of the best prepared countries in the world. |
| "The increased flu-drug stockpile means that we should be able to treat everyone who falls ill in a pandemic." | "The increased flu-drug stockpile means that we should be able to treat everyone who falls ill in a pandemic." |
| Professor John Oxford, an expert in virology at Queen Mary, University of London said it was sensible to have a safety net. | Professor John Oxford, an expert in virology at Queen Mary, University of London said it was sensible to have a safety net. |
| "It's very reassuring to have Tamiflu as we know you do a lot better with Tamiflu even if it's given very late. | "It's very reassuring to have Tamiflu as we know you do a lot better with Tamiflu even if it's given very late. |
| "There's not much drug resistance to H5N1 at the moment but if it becomes a problem then we need an alternative and that's Relenza." | "There's not much drug resistance to H5N1 at the moment but if it becomes a problem then we need an alternative and that's Relenza." |
| Dr Steve Gamblin who led the research on Tamiflu resistance said he was pleased that Relenza was being stockpiled. | |
| "Our science suggests it wouldn't be at all surprising that in the event of an N1 pandemic, Tamiflu wouldn't be useful." |