# 2217
In case there are any thoughts about whether the threat of a pandemic has diminished over the past few years, the moves of a number of governments would seem to say otherwise.
The UK has just released their national threat assessment, and pandemic flu tops the list. The UK is also doubling their antiviral stockpile.
Japan, as well, is looking to double their antiviral stockpile and is seriously considering deploying some 20 million doses of pre-pandemic vaccine next year before it expires.
And Australia has just allocated 167 Million dollars to replace soon-to-be out of date antivirals from their national stockpile.
Time's up for antiviral stockpile
by Louise Durack
Australia will not be left without antivirals to deal with an influenza pandemic as the stockpiled drugs reach their use-by date over the next two years the government says.
About $167 million is to be spent on renewing the ageing stocks of Tamiflu as they reach their expiry date between now and 2010, a Federal health department spokesman has told 6minutes.
Researchers have expressed concern of how Australia would deal with a bird flu pandemic if the nation’s stockpile of anti-viral drugs, including Tamiflu and Relenza, were not renewed.
The National Medical Stockpile (NMS) is believed to consist of about nine million courses of the two drugs, over 90% of which comprises Tamiflu.
The spokesman for the Department of Health and Ageing said stocks of Relenza will not begin to expire until 2011.
He added that there is “no evidence to suggest a need for a change in composition of the [stockpile] at this time, however, the Department is continuing to monitor the situation”.
8 August 2008
