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Source: http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topi...=255756&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56
Govt seeks to buy bird flu vaccine
By Bonnie James
QATAR intends to purchase avian influenza vaccine and update its antiviral drug stocks as part of the ongoing preparedness against the disease which may become a pandemic.
?We are awaiting evaluation from the US Food and Drug Administration about the safety of the vaccine we have in mind,? national task force co-ordinator Dr Sheikh Mohamed H al-Thani told Gulf Times yesterday.
The quantity of the vaccine and the antiviral drugs against the H5N1 virus that causes the disease has to be determined after considering various factors, he explained on the sidelines of an Avian Flu Forum at Qatar University.
?We would procure enough quantity to cover the entire population of the country, in keeping with the international standards or even more,? stated Dr Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani, who is also National Health Authority?s medical adviser.
Qatar had earlier purchased stocks of two antiviral drugs, Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza), in capsule and powder form, respectively, as a precautionary measure.
?If these drugs had a validity of three years, we plan to get new versions with seven-year validity,? he said.
Dr Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani, in his presentation at the forum, stated that Qatar was constantly updating its preparedness against bird flu. A national drill was held this year and in 2007.
Hamad Medical Corporation?s Department of Medicine chairman Dr Abdulatif al-Khal, speaking at the forum, recalled that at the time of purchasing the antiviral drugs, Qatar?s population was only 900,000 and they were supposed to cover 30%.
?Given the current population of 1.5mn, these drugs would suffice only for 20% on a single dose basis, but would cover only 10% if the recommended double dose has to be given,? he observed while hinting at the need for a recalculation of the requirement.
Tracing the history of global influenza pandemics, Dr al-Khal maintained that over the last 300 years there had been about three such pandemics every century.
?The last one was in 1968 and if you go by the pattern, another flu pandemic is overdue and could happen in the future,? he maintained.
Avian influenza, still mainly a disease among birds with occasional transmission to humans, is described as probably the next major influenza pandemic in the making and might inflict more disruption to mankind than any known disease in history.
?As of September this year, 15 countries have reported human cases of bird flu with a total of 387 cases, as a result of close contact with infected birds, and resulted in the death of 245 (63%),? Dr al-Khal said.
So far the virus has not acquired the ability to pass easily from person to person, but concern remains that it could mutate and cause this situation triggering a potential disaster.
?A human or pig could become infected with both the H5N1 and human influenza virus and the virus could mutate causing a deadly strain which might easily get transmitted among humans,? he observed.
Dr al-Khal, also HMC?s Medical Education Department director and infectious diseases consultant, predicted that in the event of bird flu becoming a global pandemic and considering that it affects 10% to 50% of Qatar?s population, up to 750,000 individuals could approach hospitals with symptoms.
?Calculating at a low mortality rate of 0.37% (applicable to the common influenza) there could be 1,400 to 1,800 deaths per million,? he said.
Referring to the development of vaccines against the H5N1 strain, Dr al-Khal pointed out that 16 companies are undertaking the task and countries such as the US and the UK placed orders for stockpiling them.
Govt seeks to buy bird flu vaccine
By Bonnie James
QATAR intends to purchase avian influenza vaccine and update its antiviral drug stocks as part of the ongoing preparedness against the disease which may become a pandemic.
?We are awaiting evaluation from the US Food and Drug Administration about the safety of the vaccine we have in mind,? national task force co-ordinator Dr Sheikh Mohamed H al-Thani told Gulf Times yesterday.
The quantity of the vaccine and the antiviral drugs against the H5N1 virus that causes the disease has to be determined after considering various factors, he explained on the sidelines of an Avian Flu Forum at Qatar University.
?We would procure enough quantity to cover the entire population of the country, in keeping with the international standards or even more,? stated Dr Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani, who is also National Health Authority?s medical adviser.
Qatar had earlier purchased stocks of two antiviral drugs, Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza), in capsule and powder form, respectively, as a precautionary measure.
?If these drugs had a validity of three years, we plan to get new versions with seven-year validity,? he said.
Dr Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani, in his presentation at the forum, stated that Qatar was constantly updating its preparedness against bird flu. A national drill was held this year and in 2007.
Hamad Medical Corporation?s Department of Medicine chairman Dr Abdulatif al-Khal, speaking at the forum, recalled that at the time of purchasing the antiviral drugs, Qatar?s population was only 900,000 and they were supposed to cover 30%.
?Given the current population of 1.5mn, these drugs would suffice only for 20% on a single dose basis, but would cover only 10% if the recommended double dose has to be given,? he observed while hinting at the need for a recalculation of the requirement.
Tracing the history of global influenza pandemics, Dr al-Khal maintained that over the last 300 years there had been about three such pandemics every century.
?The last one was in 1968 and if you go by the pattern, another flu pandemic is overdue and could happen in the future,? he maintained.
Avian influenza, still mainly a disease among birds with occasional transmission to humans, is described as probably the next major influenza pandemic in the making and might inflict more disruption to mankind than any known disease in history.
?As of September this year, 15 countries have reported human cases of bird flu with a total of 387 cases, as a result of close contact with infected birds, and resulted in the death of 245 (63%),? Dr al-Khal said.
So far the virus has not acquired the ability to pass easily from person to person, but concern remains that it could mutate and cause this situation triggering a potential disaster.
?A human or pig could become infected with both the H5N1 and human influenza virus and the virus could mutate causing a deadly strain which might easily get transmitted among humans,? he observed.
Dr al-Khal, also HMC?s Medical Education Department director and infectious diseases consultant, predicted that in the event of bird flu becoming a global pandemic and considering that it affects 10% to 50% of Qatar?s population, up to 750,000 individuals could approach hospitals with symptoms.
?Calculating at a low mortality rate of 0.37% (applicable to the common influenza) there could be 1,400 to 1,800 deaths per million,? he said.
Referring to the development of vaccines against the H5N1 strain, Dr al-Khal pointed out that 16 companies are undertaking the task and countries such as the US and the UK placed orders for stockpiling them.