Lyro
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SWITZERLAND READY TO ORDER 'PRE-PANDEMIC' BIRD FLU VACCINE
June 28, 2006 (Yahoo News)
Geneva (AFP) - Switzerland will order eight million doses of a new type of "pre-pandemic" vaccine designed to tackle the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu and other related variants, the government has said.
Two unnamed vaccine makers will be approached to supply the national stock, which should be ready next year, the Federal Council announced after a regular cabinet meeting.
The vaccine is meant to provide an initial layer of protection for the Swiss population when a flu pandemic emerges, until a proper vaccine is developed within months to tackle the exact pandemic strain.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
About 7,400 people -- one thousandth of the country's population -- could die in Switzerland during a flu pandemic, according to official estimates.
Health authorities believe about 1.85 million people could fall ill, of whom about 46,000 would be hospitalised.
Like many countries, Switzerland has also set up a stock of the anti-influenza drug Tamiflu, which would help treat all of the expected pandemic cases and protect health staff.
Source: News.yahoo.com
June 28, 2006 (Yahoo News)
Geneva (AFP) - Switzerland will order eight million doses of a new type of "pre-pandemic" vaccine designed to tackle the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu and other related variants, the government has said.
Two unnamed vaccine makers will be approached to supply the national stock, which should be ready next year, the Federal Council announced after a regular cabinet meeting.
The vaccine is meant to provide an initial layer of protection for the Swiss population when a flu pandemic emerges, until a proper vaccine is developed within months to tackle the exact pandemic strain.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
About 7,400 people -- one thousandth of the country's population -- could die in Switzerland during a flu pandemic, according to official estimates.
Health authorities believe about 1.85 million people could fall ill, of whom about 46,000 would be hospitalised.
Like many countries, Switzerland has also set up a stock of the anti-influenza drug Tamiflu, which would help treat all of the expected pandemic cases and protect health staff.
Source: News.yahoo.com