'No defence against bird flu'
2005-07-14 18:10
Johannesburg - Assurances from South Africa's Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang that South Africa has well advanced plans to contain a bird flu outbreak are not backed up by the facts, says official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson Diane Kohler-Barnard.
She said in a statement on Thursday: "In fact, although scientists say the adaptation of the virus to transmit from human to human could happen at any time, South Africa is without any medical defence against an outbreak."
Kohler-Barnard noted in response to a recent parliamentary question, the minister claimed that South Africa's bird flu preparedness plan was ?in line with the latest World Health Organisation's Global Influenza Preparedness Plan?.
Drug still not approved
"But the World Health Organisation plan includes the recommendation that 'Oseltamivir' be readily available for the treatment of suspected H5N1 respiratory infections, and the minister has so far refused to expedite the approval of this drug," she said.
Oseltamivir, sold as Tamiflu, is one of only two antiviral drugs known to work against the H5N1 strain of bird flu, and is the first choice for epidemic planners because it is easier to use than the alternative, Zanamivir.
Kohler-Barnard said: "It is being stockpiled by countries around the world in anticipation of a bird flu outbreak. Many European countries have ordered sufficient quantities of the drug to treat up to half their populations should the disease spread beyond Asia. The United States has set aside 2.3 million treatments, and is under pressure from health organisations to buy up more.
The manufacturer has quadrupled production in the last two years but is unable to keep up with the demand.
Government lethargic
"In 2003 the Medicines Control Council (MCC) refused to register the drug because it had 'failed to comply with the clinical requirements for efficacy'. It appears that the MCC considered the efficacy of the drug only in relation to ordinary flu, not bird flu. Subsequent studies have shown the drug's effectiveness in treating bird flu.
"Concerns have previously been raised about the government's lethargy in preparing for Avian flu by South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases, which criticised the government earlier this year for devoting insufficient time and money towards preparations for a possible outbreak.
"Various private hospitals and clinics have also given up on official support and begun to create, adopt and follow their own coping procedures.
"The health minister has the power in terms of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act to expedite the registration of a drug which she considers to be essential for national health. But she has so far failed to do this, although it has been done in many other countries," he said.