UK prepares for possible avian flu outbreak

The UK is currently preparing for the possibility that it may have to deal with an outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu.
EU and UK controls are in place aimed at preventing the occurrence of bird flu in the UK.
Leading scientists have spoken about the extent of the threat to humans and the wide range of vaccines and remedies currently being presented to the general public.
There is now a distinct possibility that, as bird flu has now reached France, some isolated cases of birds that are infected with the virus may reach the UK.
However, even if this does happen, the chances of people catching the disease are remote, especially in a country such as the UK, where the vast majority of the population does not come into close contact with birds.
As of 22 February 2006, 170 people worldwide have caught the infection as a result of close and direct contact with infected birds. Of these, 92 have subsequently died.
The UK has had a national influenza pandemic plan since 1997 and was one of the first countries to publish a pandemic plan. It has been constantly updated and the most recently revised UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan was published on 19 October 2005.
The revised plan outlines the actions that the British Government and other authorities are taking to prepare for a possible pandemic.
The plan is based on the framework recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for national pandemic plans.
The UK Government is currently expanding its stockpile of antiviral drugs against the contingency of a flu pandemic.On 1 March 2005, the Health
Secretary announced the purchase of 14.6 million treatment courses of the antiviral, Tamiflu ¨C enough to treat a quarter of the UK population.
There are already several potential vaccines for protecting humans from infection with bird flu, at various stages of testing and production.
The UK's National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) is one of several organisations worldwide participating in the development of a vaccine to combat bird flu.
The UK Government is currently working to raise public awareness about bird flu. A number of briefings, such as at the Science Media Centre ¨C which hosted an event titled ¡®Avian flu treatments ¨C what works?' in February 2006 ¨C should ensure that the UK is as well prepared as it can be if the country is affected by the disease.
The news source is from the British Embassy to China