Media Release

30 September 2005

Pandemic preparedness - a statement from Director of Public Health Dr Mark Jacobs

It is impossible to say with any degree of certainty how many people might get sick or die in the next pandemic influenza, but it is important to plan for the possibility that it will cause significant problems around the world.

New Zealand has been planning for a potential outbreak of pandemic influenza for some years, and this country was one of the first in the world to develop a pandemic preparedness plan.

Recent comments from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Dr David Nabarro highlight how important it is for governments to take steps to address the threat of bird flu turning into a pandemic.

New Zealand has been doing this for some time and a lot of work and planning is going into preparing this country for a potential pandemic influenza outbreak.

We are continually updating our pandemic plan, in line with WHO recommendations and the Ministry of Health is working with agencies across government to strengthen national preparedness.

During the past several months we have been adding more and more detail to our plan so we can look at what sorts of responses are necessary across different sectors.

The Ministry of Health is leading the whole of government planning for a potential influenza pandemic outbreak.

Government agencies leading various intersectoral workgroups are: NZ Customs Service, Treasury, Department of Labour, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, NZ Police, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Social Development, the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet, and Crown Law.

The Government has also committed $26 million to buy 835,000 Tamiflu treatment courses. Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is an antiviral treatment that can be used within 48 hours of influenza symptoms appearing. By world standards, this is a significant investment.

Some 670,000 of the Tamiflu treatment courses have arrived in the country. By the end of November we will have more than 850,000 courses -- enough anti-virals to treat 21 per cent of the population, as planned.

Details of the use of Tamiflu will be confirmed once we know the exact nature of the pandemic. At this stage, we can say it is likely that Tamiflu will largely be used for treating people who are sick .

It may also be used to "ringfence" an outbreak in its very early stages. However, it is very important to reiterate that the policy is not yet finalised and Tamiflu will be only part of New Zealand's overall response to a pandemic. Tamiflu is not a magic bullet and there are other actions we can all take in the event of an influenza pandemic.

Personal hygiene measures that all New Zealanders can implement will form a crucial part of helping to reduce the risk of influenza infection. At a community level, there are very simple, practical measures families and individuals can take to help themselves, in the event of a pandemic.

These are:

• regular handwashing using soap, remembering to dry them thoroughly afterwards

• covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and safely disposing of the used tissue in a bin

• avoiding contact with others if you are sick, and staying home from work to reduce the risk of passing on the infection

• making sure you have enough food and water in the house to keep going if you become sick and can't get out to the shops. Plan for about a week's worth of supplies

• having a supply of paracetamol in the house to reduce fevers in people who are sick.

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Related information

Ministry of Health media releases

Influenza

Pandemic Influenza