DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 29 January 2009
The UK today
awarded contracts to double emergency supplies of flu drugs to
treat everyone who is predicted to fall ill in a pandemic, making
the UK one of the most prepared countries in the world.
The agreements with Roche and GlaxoSmithKline will double
antiviral stockpiles, which are expected to be in place by April
2009. The contracts will deliver an additional 7.6 million
treatment courses of Tamiflu (Roche) and 10.6 million treatment
courses of Relenza (GlaxoSmithKline). Once the extra capacity is
in place, there will be 33.5 million treatment courses of antivirals.
Without antiviral treatment, estimates suggest that up to 750,000
people could die in the UK during a pandemic. Antivirals will play
a key role in the clinical response, reducing the severity of the
illness and reducing the chance that complications such as
pneumonia will set in.
There are currently enough drugs for a quarter of the population,
but the latest cross-government pandemic plan aims to cope with
the worse case scenario of an infection rate that could hit up to
half the UK population. Contracts awarded today by the Department
of Health will ensure that we can meet that aim.
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.
"Antivirals are an important part of our robust
countermeasure strategy and will ensure we respond effectively in
the event of a flu pandemic."
World Health Organization Assistant Director-General for Health
Security and Environment Dr David Heymann said:
"The UK remains among the best prepared countries in the world.
"Purchasing enough antivirals to treat the worst case attack
rate scenario, and two different antivirals in case resistance
develops, is a first class example of the UK's advanced planning."
Notes to editors
1. The Department of Health announced plans to increase the
stockpile to 50% of the population when the National Framework was
launched in November 2007 by the Secretary of State.
2. This procurement of the antivirals was subject to EU
procurement legislation. This process began with the launch of the
tender process in August 2008.
3. Pandemic flu occurs when a new influenza virus emerges that
people lack immunity to where there is no vaccine. Unlike
'seasonal' flu outbreaks, flu pandemics occur
infrequently - usually every few decades. The most serious last
century was in 1918 and killed 20 million worldwide.
4. Previous flu pandemic have infected between 25 to 35 per cent
of the population.
5. For further information, please contact the Department of
Health press office on 020 7210 5221.