Normal flu still ‘greater threat to Gibraltar’
Government plays down avian flu threat
The Avian Flu Group of the Gibraltar Government’s Civil Contingency Committee met yesterday under the Chairmanship of Peter Caruana, Chief Minister.
They later said that there is no indication that bird flu may affect birds in or near Gibraltar in the near future. Nor is it currently possible for an avian flu pandemic to affect human beings, because in its present form this bird flu virus is not capable of being transmitted between human beings.
Government said it continues to monitor and implement all advice issued on this subject by the UN World Health Organisation and the EU.
The meeting was described as “totally precautionary†and responded to World Health Organisation advice for Governments to make contingency plans in case the virus becomes a problem in the future. The Gibraltar Government has already arranged to acquire stocks of Tamiflu, the medication used in the treatment of bird flu in human beings. Stocks will be acquired to cover the whole population.
The meeting considered “all issues†relevant to Gibraltar’s preparedness, including whether there was a need to further control our bird population or to impose further import controls; the availability and acquisition of drugs, the drawing up of medical protocols for the treatment of Avian Flu, the management of hospital beds and other medical services in the event of a pandemic and the arrangements for the operation of an isolation hospital facility, arrangements for disposal of bird carcasses, arrangements for any external and internal quarantine that may become necessary, arrangements for workers in essential services, as well as other issues.
The Government repeated that the meeting of this Group reflects precautionary contingency planning and does not reflect the imminence or likelihood of any risk to public health. The Group will meet regularly to monitor and assess international developments relating to the Avian Flu virus and also to monitor progress in the ongoing development and preparation of Gibraltar’s plans to deal with all aspects of the situation should the virus affect either birds or people in Gibraltar at any stage in the future.
“There is no realistic threat at present. At the moment normal flu is a bigger threat to peoples health in Gibraltar than any bird flu,†they said. The Group consists of Mr Caruana, the Minister for Health, the Minister for the Environment, the Chief Secretary and Assistant Chief Secretary, the Civil Contingencies Co-ordinator, the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive of the GHA, the Director of Public Health, the Chief Environmental Health Officer, Veterinary Surgeon Mr Mark Pizarro and Dr John Cortes of GONHS (The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society).
From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801
Related Articles and Links:
WHO Avian Influenza Pandemic Threat Recommendations
Avian Influenza - FAQs
NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) UK - Factsheets on Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) Vaccine
Roche Laboratories Inc. - Tamiflu
29 September 2005 - Government prepares against threat of Avian Influenza
26 October 2005 - Spain steps up controls on poultry farms
25 October 2005 - Health Chiefs prepare for Avian Flu threat
25 October 2005 - EU plans ban on pet bird imports
29 September 2005 - Government prepares against threat of Avian Influenza
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