OCEANBIRU: FROM SARS TO AVIAN FLU

The deadly bird flu has moved from Asia to Sibera-Russia and it was only yesterday (August 27th) that experts commented that the bird flu will not be able to spread westward of the Urals in 2005. Unfortunately they were wrong, there have been reports that it has spread to Finland though there is a possibility that it could be the low-pathogenic avian influenza and not the high pathogenic ones.
Whilst, there is a "very remote" possibility that the virus in its current form could be introduced to poultry or people, it has not stopped the UK to push for the early adoption of a new Europe wide initiative to combat the threat. Australia will also initiate an early warning system and allow quick access to the vaccine in the event of an outbreak there.
Nearer to Malaysia, Vietnam's capital has been warned that 50 percent of water fowl transported into the city and 10 percent of those being raised there have tested positive for bird flu. Bird flu has killed 42 people in Vietnam, 12 in Thailand 4 in Cambodia and 3 in Indonesia. According to the World Health Organization "The expanding geographical presence of the virus is of concern as it creates further opportunities for human exposure. Each additional human case increases opportunities for the virus to improve its transmissibility, through either adaptive mutation or reassortment. The emergence of an H5N1 strain that is readily transmitted among humans would mark the start of a pandemic" Experts have previously warned that future pandemics, or worldwide outbreaks, could kill up to 70 million people

The Malysian Health Ministry is only expected to START stockpiling Tamiflu as part of it's strategy under the National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan.This plan should have been initiated and activated months ago. Apart from the stockpile, there must be a national contigency plan to prevent the spead of this flu pandemic into and within the country. As for the limited supply of Tamiflu, will this be only for the elites or will this be for the ones that need it most ? Transparency will be the catch-word.

Malaysian Ministry to stockpile drug for possible bird flu outbreak
Annie Freeda Cruez

KUALA LUMPUR, Fri.

Malaysia will stockpile the drug Oseltamivir for a possible outbreak of bird flu which has hit humans in Thailand and Indonesia.

This follows a World Health Organisation call for nations in the region to prepare themselves for a bird flu pandemic.

Malaysia is expected to obtain its supply from Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, which has agreed to reserve three million courses (30 million capsules) for the world market until 2010.

The first million courses (10 million capsules) will be ready early next year with the remainder before the middle of next year.

The Health Ministry’s surveillance unit in the Communicable Disease Control Division has been entrusted with the task of stockpiling the drug.

Division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat confirmed that the ministry would stockpile the drug as part of the strategy under the National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan.