Bird flu a national security issue, Rudd says

In this article we see that they have no stagety to deal with human to human transmission.


Last Update: Saturday, July 16, 2005. 6:22pm
(AEST)

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd says avian influenza represents a national security challenge.

He says he agrees with world health experts who say the bird flu will cause a pandemic if it mutates, allowing human to human transmission.

Mr Rudd has called on the Federal Government to develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with such an eventuality.

"We don't have such a strategy at present, there are gaps in the way in which the region can handle this challenge, there are gaps in terms of the early identification of avian flu where it breaks out and on top of that there are also problems when it comes to what you do in the eventuality that human to human transmission occurs," he said.

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This article seems to indicate that they are brewing up a nice little bird flu vaccine.

PLANNING TO TACKLE KILLER FLU

10:30 - 16 July 2005
Nhs organisations in Lincolnshire are formulating plans for action if a flu pandemic hits Britain.

Plans are in place to set up immunisation offices in village halls and public buildings if the virus, which has killed many people in Asia, hits the country.

Lincolnshire Ambulance Trust's flu pandemic contingency planning lays out how they will cope with an outbreak, taking into account that it could mean they could be under-staffed at a critical time when demand is high as staff may also be affected.

They, along with other NHS organisations, are putting together a mass vaccination plan for if and when a vaccine should become available for the flu strain and are deciding on 30 vaccination centres that could be used in the county to ensure everyone can obtain help.

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