Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaruherald/4489833a6010.html
Bird flu pandemic risk remains
The Timaru Herald | Monday, 21 April 2008
The hysteria surrounding bird flu may have flown the coop but the risk of a pandemic remains.
Timaru pharmacies have noted a distinct decline in the amount of antiviral medication Tamiflu being sold.
Timaru Hospital remains prepared for a pandemic with the medical officer of health Dr Daniel Williams saying the worst case scenario, based on information from the 1918 pandemic, would see 22,000 people in South Canterbury infected and 440 deaths over a few months.
Timaru pharmacies have noticed few sales of Tamiflu, following the initial sell-out.
Faulks and Jordan pharmacist Neil Savage said his pharmacy had not sold any for the past 12 months.
"At the start we could not get enough supplies.
"That said, we are only just moving into the season now."
Moyles Pharmacy pharmacist Vivien Macintosh said the pharmacy still had stocks and a prescription was required in most cases to get it.
Timaru Hospital business support manager Nathan Taylor said the hospital held a supply of Tamiflu which was updated continuously and dispensed to hospital patients with influenza like-illnesses.
"We are now entering the influenza season and are focusing on prevention (vaccination) strategies both in the hospital as well as through GPs.
"Should indications demonstrate an influenza pandemic is likely, a large stockpile for the South Island region is held in Christchurch, and would be available to the South Canterbury DHB, and other South Island DHBs. Regional stockpiles also exist for antibiotics used to treat the complications of influenza.
"Over the past four years we have work closely with our health providers and partner agencies, such as our three Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) authorities, ambulance, police and fire service, to plan for the possibility of a pandemic.
"The concept of community-based assessment centres (CBACs) in every town in the district is now a realisation to ensure that we can effectively assess and treat patients with influenza-like illnesses in their own community."
Timaru Hospital held a bird flu pandemic presentation for 150 healthworkers on March 11, conducted by Dr Williams.
"A virus named H5N1 is causing concern at present. If it mutated into a form that was easily transmitted between humans, it would only take a few days to circumnavigate the globe.
"By week three of a pandemic, the number of sick patients would be about 10 times higher than the number of beds available at Timaru Hospital, and this figure would continue to rise over several weeks.
Hospital staff would also fall ill, or would need to stay home and care for sick family members, making the situation more urgent."
Bird flu pandemic risk remains
The Timaru Herald | Monday, 21 April 2008
The hysteria surrounding bird flu may have flown the coop but the risk of a pandemic remains.
Timaru pharmacies have noted a distinct decline in the amount of antiviral medication Tamiflu being sold.
Timaru Hospital remains prepared for a pandemic with the medical officer of health Dr Daniel Williams saying the worst case scenario, based on information from the 1918 pandemic, would see 22,000 people in South Canterbury infected and 440 deaths over a few months.
Timaru pharmacies have noticed few sales of Tamiflu, following the initial sell-out.
Faulks and Jordan pharmacist Neil Savage said his pharmacy had not sold any for the past 12 months.
"At the start we could not get enough supplies.
"That said, we are only just moving into the season now."
Moyles Pharmacy pharmacist Vivien Macintosh said the pharmacy still had stocks and a prescription was required in most cases to get it.
Timaru Hospital business support manager Nathan Taylor said the hospital held a supply of Tamiflu which was updated continuously and dispensed to hospital patients with influenza like-illnesses.
"We are now entering the influenza season and are focusing on prevention (vaccination) strategies both in the hospital as well as through GPs.
"Should indications demonstrate an influenza pandemic is likely, a large stockpile for the South Island region is held in Christchurch, and would be available to the South Canterbury DHB, and other South Island DHBs. Regional stockpiles also exist for antibiotics used to treat the complications of influenza.
"Over the past four years we have work closely with our health providers and partner agencies, such as our three Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) authorities, ambulance, police and fire service, to plan for the possibility of a pandemic.
"The concept of community-based assessment centres (CBACs) in every town in the district is now a realisation to ensure that we can effectively assess and treat patients with influenza-like illnesses in their own community."
Timaru Hospital held a bird flu pandemic presentation for 150 healthworkers on March 11, conducted by Dr Williams.
"A virus named H5N1 is causing concern at present. If it mutated into a form that was easily transmitted between humans, it would only take a few days to circumnavigate the globe.
"By week three of a pandemic, the number of sick patients would be about 10 times higher than the number of beds available at Timaru Hospital, and this figure would continue to rise over several weeks.
Hospital staff would also fall ill, or would need to stay home and care for sick family members, making the situation more urgent."