GPs in Britain to get advisory on tackling bird flu |
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Sun, 21 Aug 2005 06:05
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LONDON: The department of health is to advise all the 10,465 GPs in Britain on how to handle an outbreak of bird flu. The department has prepared a technical guide, which will be distributed to the doctors next month.
There are fears across the world of a likely pandemic affecting many millions worldwide. It could kill some 50,000 in the U.K.
The H5N1 variant of the flu has so far claimed 57 lives in south-east Asia, but in the likely event of the virus mutating into a type capable of human-to-human infection, there could be a catastrophe. The government says it plans to stock 2 million vaccines, though experts say an effective vaccine can be developed only when the exact strain of the virus is isolated.
Health secretary Patricia Hewitt said the department would call for tenders to supply vaccines for the H5N1 strain, which will be used as the "first line of defence".
The department, however, clarified that the emergency steps it is initiating do not indicate that the country is more prone to the virus. The packs are being sent out as part of a contingency plan announced in March.
A department spokesperson said the GPs will be the first point of call for many members of the public and hence it is important they are prepared to handle the exigency. "It is all part of the process of being prepared in case of an outbreak."
They will be told to encourage patients to take basic precautions during an outbreak such as hand-washing, covering mouths when sneezing and avoiding crowded places.
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