Press Releases
Govt proposes increase in antiviral stockpile for possible flu pandemic
The Government has proposed to increase the stockpile of antiviral for dealing
with a possible influenza pandemic from 3.7 million capsules to more than 20
million in phases as an integral part of the Preparedness Plan for Influenza
Pandemic with particular reference to avian influenza.
A spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said today (March 8) that
the antiviral stockpile proposal was in line with the recommendations made by
the World Health Organization (WHO) and would contribute to a more favourable
perception of Hong Kong as a safe place for the international community to do
business.
"The proposal would also contribute to the sustainability principle of providing
a living and working environment and pursuing policies which promote and protect
the physical and mental health and safety of the people of Hong Kong," the
spokesman said.
According to WHO, stockpiling of drugs in advance was currently the only way to
ensure sufficient supplies at the start of a pandemic and governments with
adequate resources should consider pursuing this option as a precautionary
measure.
Since late December 2004, human cases of avian influenza has claimed 13 lives in
Vietnam. WHO has expressed concern that the avian influenza virus may reassort
its genes with those from a human influenza virus, thereby acquiring the ability
to move easily from human to human and thus triggering a pandemic.
The spokesman noted the impact of the pandemic on Hong Kong would depend on how
well we are prepared.
"While WHO has repeatedly emphasised the important role of maintaining an
antiviral stockpile against pandemic influenza, our target is to ensure adequate
supply of antiviral while minimising wastage as antiviral drugs have a shelf
life of three to four years," he added.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) had recommended maintaining a target
level of more than 20 million capsules of antiviral in consultation with its
Board of Scientific Advisors as well as in the light of recent developments in
neighbouring areas, and action taken by other places to step up their antiviral
stockpile.
In the light of competing demands from other jurisdictions, the delivery of the
antiviral would need to be phased out over a period of six to 12 months.
Raising the antiviral stockpile level to more than 20 million capsules would
cost about $254 million.
Antiviral agents are effective both for prophylaxis and treatment and could have
a role as an adjunctive strategy to vaccination for the management of pandemic
influenza. Given that the vaccine is unlikely to be available for the early
months of a pandemic, antiviral agents are likely to be the only virus-specific
intervention during the initial pandemic response.
Apart from treatment, in order to maintain health care and other essential
services, it is necessary to provide pre-exposure prophylaxis to health care
workers and other essential service workers in the public sector.
Antiviral should be provided to workers involved in the culling operation in the
event that massive culling of live poultry is needed.
Prophylaxis should also be provided to high-risk groups living in institutions,
and contacts identified during outbreak investigation and contact tracing during
the pre-pandemic period.
The Government would consult the Legislative Council's Panel on Health Services
on March 14 on the proposal to increase the stockpile of antiviral and would
seek the Finance Committee's endorsement for creating a capital commitment for
this purpose later.
Ends/Tuesday, March 8, 2005
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