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Supplies of anti-flu drug Tamiflu to be kept under guard
Tim Ross and Mark Prigg30.04.09
Hundreds of specially guarded sites including schools and police stations will be used for handing out anti-flu drugs.
Health chiefs were today drawing up an official list of locations which are “secure” yet are within easy travelling distance for Londoners.
The Standard has learned emergency planners handling the swine flu crisis fear Tamiflu “thieves” may target official distribution points and sell the drug on the black market.
Each part of the capital will have between 10 and 70 points where people can pick up anti-viral medication through a specially issued registration number. Those thought to be infected with the virus will be told to stay at home and instead send a “flu friend” to pick up their drugs.
The Government's emergency planning committee Cobra will take the final decision on when to distribute Tamiflu.
But they are expected to give the go-ahead when the official alert level is raised by the World Health Organisation from its current position of five to six — a full pandemic.
Lorry-loads of anti-viral drugs will be sent to distribution points from where they are being held in a warehouse at a secret location.
The news comes amid warnings that tens of thousands could die if a swine flu pandemic strikes. According to worst-case projections, outlined in the official pandemic response plan for London, up to 94,000 people could die as a result of a severe outbreak in which 3.25 million — half the capital's population — would be infected.
Travel companies are trying to trace all passengers on Flight 578 from Cancun, Mexico, on 21 April.
The Thomson and First Choice charter carried three of the five people in Britain who have contracted swine flu, a 12-year-old girl from Devon, and Iain and Dawn Askham, the honeymooners who were released from hospital in Scotland this afternoon.
A 22-year-old man from Barnet and a 41-year-old woman from Redditch also have the virus. Dozens of others across the country are being tested.
But London health chiefs today appealed to people not to panic and said emergency planners and health officials were meeting twice daily to avert a major outbreak.
They urged anyone with symptoms to contact NHS Direct and not clog up hospital emergency departments.
In an interview with the Standard, Dr Simon Tanner, public health director for NHS London, said it would be at least a week before the extent of the swine flu threat was known.
The former GP said: “People shouldn't panic. At this stage, we just need to get as much information as possible by getting people who have travelled to affected areas to come forward for testing. This is to get a sense of what we are dealing with. The question on everyone's mind at the moment is how is this different from normal flu?' and the answer is not simple. There has been a death outside Mexico but as we speak we have had no other deaths. We don't know how different this is until we have more cases.
“What's good news is people are responding to the Tamiflu but it will be at least a week before we find out how this is developing in individuals. There's always the possibility this will become a pandemic but with a small illness.”
Older people are the most vulnerable during winter flu outbreaks. But Mr Tanner warned that “young, fit adults” would not be immune to the swine flu virus.
He said: “The issue here is the novelty of this virus — it's like normal flu but with added genetic material. The experience from other pandemics is this affects a group of people not normally affected by flu, such as young, fit adults.
“We would always say to people contact your GP'— don't go to A&E which is for situations where there's a real risk.”
Meanwhile, two people at risk of developing swine flu today criticised health chiefs after revealing they had been unable to get medication despite being designated priority cases by doctors.
Charles Posner, 67, and Felix Alverez, 38, have prescriptions for Tamiflu but cannot find a pharmacy that stocks it.
They are both staying near the Barbican after returning recently from Mexico. Mr Posner, who is British but works in Mexico City, said: “This is appalling disorganisation. We have the resources in this country but we are sitting on them.”
Mr Posner, an emeritus professor from the University of London, must return to Mexico next week with his Mexican assistant Mr Alverez.
Reader views (51)
Us Ealing-ites have had it coming a long time since we allowed a Primark to be opened in the Broadway.
- Jasmine, Ealing, London
Nearly 3 years ago, the government bought large stocks of Tamiflu at the time of the Avian flu scare. tamiflu has a shelf life of 3 years. How convenient for this and other governments, that this current scare will allow them to get rid of old stocks near the end of their shelf life. Or am I being cynical?
- Mary, London
"People shouldn't panic." Who's panicking? Where are all these panicking people? Honestly, I'm tempted to start looting just for the hell of it.
All I see is a never-ending of stream of talking heads desperate for their 15 seconds of fame armed with increasingly hysterical "possibilities" that "50% of the population might be affected", "750,000 people could die" etc. Big whoop. No one's going to die, just like for SARs and just like for Avian flu. But I suppose these people have to pad out their 24-hour news channels/justify their government funding somehow.
Oh, and if you see a news report about a crazed citizen looting boxes of Lemsip in an SW London branch of Boots, you'll know I've finally flipped.
- Rob, London
It is all very well - being sceptical about the Govt's efforts however the truth is that at present they are working. The Govt has been prepared for this eventuality for some years and Tamiflu IS WORKING for those affecting by the swine flu. People need to be very careful that they are not needlessly spredaing disinformation as creating unnecessary panic really could could cause a problem. Let's be thankful we have a Govt who has stockpiled, a medical system - which for any of its other failings is excellent in an emergency and a Govt that can manage a financial crisis and a pandemic.
- Nic, London
I agree that this is governments ruling by fear. It's a great distraction that's been engineered to take people's minds of the global financial crisis.
We got all worked up about bird flu a few years back and nothing happened, so what is different now?
- Simon, London
Tamiflu isn't a vaccine. It's a drug that gums up the replication mechanism of previously known types of flu virus. It appears to be effective against this new one. There were reasonable grounds in advance to think that this would be the case, which is why the government bought a stockpile.
Developing a vaccine will take months, and if the new virus spreads fast we don't have months.
- Nigel, London
This sounds unworkable. A diagnosis is supposed to be made by telephone and a friend has to pick up the drugs for you? Anyone could call NHS Direct and say they have symptoms in order to get a stock of antivirals.
- Asceptic, London, UK
Unfortunately until they discover this specific strain of the flu, Tamiflu is unlikely to help much.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Whoever invents the reams of spin churned out by Downing Street has a very vivid imagination indeed.
"I say Claud, we have had the most ghastly time of it recently. Joe Public is not amused at all the MP's expenses claims. Then there is the matter of the Gurkhas and our dear Home Secretary who does not know what day of the week it is. I thought we had done enough to frighten people in the UK into submission. Ah! What is this news story coming in.....SWINE FLU. Doesn't that just roll off the tongue a treat Claud? SWINE FLU. Right! I'll make those sheep in the UK take notice and stop them moaning about MP's expenses and Gurkhas."
It is now reported that swine flu can kill 94,000 people in the UK at the drop of a hat. Ha! Ha!
Three days ago Gormless Brown announced that the UK was "well prepared" for any swine flu.
Yesterday I noted that pharmacies could not obtain stocks of the tamilflu vaccine.
Gormless Brown is about as "well prepared" to deal with any likelihood of swine flu as he has proven with his ability to manage the UK economy.
More spin, waffle, smoke and mirrors.
I have stopped listening to anything uttered by ANY MP.
Roll on the General Election.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster
HOW ODD THAT THE LATEST FILM IS CALLED, 'IS THERE ANYONE THERE'
DOES THIS REFER TO THE 94000 UNDER RISK FROM FLU OR THE RICH STARS WHO DO NOT LIKE PAYING THE NEW 505% TAX RATE
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
When they broadcast soothing elevator music on all channels you will know that something is up.
- Michael, London
Can't we lay off the Brown bashing for a moment and stop seeing a government conspiracy everywhere? Here's a thought, folks - Maybe both WHO and the UK government actually want to ensure people are prepared if there is an outbreak. Who would be a politician? You get flak if you fail to do anything, and are accused of trying to rule by fear and nannying us if you do. Also, I do wonder why so many people are gunning for Gordon Brown when there seemed to be endless tolerance for Tony Blair, who lied shamelessly, involved us in illegal wars, made us a terrorist target and was basically reponsible for handing the country over to Brown in the mess that it's currently in. Guess money talks and people care more about the economy being in recession (also largely due to external and cyclical factors rather than anything Brown has done)than dead Iraqi children.
- Lindsay, London
How prepared is the government? I asked my local SE24 chemist if his shelves were overflowing with anti-virals and he said he hadn't got any at all. He said the stocks were held in India and they had yet to be flow over and distributed. If true it's a scandal that ministers are misleading us. If you need anti-virals the sooner you take them the better.
- Charles, london
"The WHO and our government have our best interests at heart". Hahaha lol. You must be out of your mind if you believe that!
- Neil, London, London UK
according to the statistics last year, globally 36,000 died from flu and 1,200,000 died on the roads + 10 - 15 million further injuries. Shouldnt we quantify risk better? I propose a permanent pandemic of car sickness!
- Timt, london
It seems extraordinary that a few people who obviously cosy-up to pigs (bless 'em) in Mexico seem to have sent the world into a spin!!!! I agree that it was either the G20 or just the general political elite who dreamed this up to avert our gaze at their utter incompetence in running (or saving!) the world! I also live in Ealing HELP HELP HELP HELP!
- Vanessa, London
I agree with most of the comments above - My husband works as a chauffeur and over the last 2 years there has constantly been some reason for people to not travel to UK ie illness, terrorists, airport problems and various other reasons and its ruining his business. Tomorrow (friday some Australians were travelling to London from Boston but have now cancelled and are going straight home to Australia from Boston - another days work lost. Apparently Australian gov. are scanning people from today for the virus so these people wanted to go straight home. What will my husband have to endure next - I can't wait!!
- Susan, sutton
The US suffers about 30,000 fatalities during a normal flu season. Mostly very young and elderly as a result of complications from pneumonia and severe dehydration. I suspect the lower end estimates reported in this article reflect normal annual London flu fatalities. The high-end number probably has a similar probability to London being hit by a large meteor during the same period.
- Bill, Houston, Tx, USA
Is it divine retribution that will target bankers? Or Satan putting the boot in and picking off the innocent who have recently been made redundant?
- Mike, london
George Orwell must be wetting himself laughing at the moment!
- Richard, Harrow
If we are subjected to this Pandemic, will we seek retribution from the American conglomerate that caused it with their flouting of health and safety rules? I doubt it. Their rich shareholders will be safe of course.
- Kerry, Purley
This a bit like saying i might win the lottery. Possible but not likely.
- Duncan, Kent
94,000? No big deal - there's nearly 7 million of us. That's good odds at 74:1 against.
- Paul, London
Agree with John. Some desperate political pratts started a global panic to distract all from the dire economic crisis. 'made redundant no problem, at least I am not infected with swine flu' mentality is being cultivated.
- Chris, Plymouth
does the WHO cook up a pandemic furore every year or two just to justify their existence?
what a load of cobblers.
- Scotty, london
Why are you all so cynical?
The WHO and our government have our best interests at heart and are preparing us for the worst.
I imagine there will we counselling available for all are affected. I understand Corrie and Eastenders are not going to have any hard hitting emotional episodes in the next few weeks to free up these counsellors for this
- Mick, Hatfield
look on the bright side....at least the cost for houses would come down
- Preet, London UK
I think that I read that this strain is more prone to 21-45 year olds due to their overactive immune systems instead of the normal groups.Therefore anyone saying this is no different to our usual flu is wrong.
- Martin Jolly, London
Why has Ealing been singled out for the most number of fatalities? What have we done to deserve that???
- Penny, Ealing, Ealing, UK
Gordon Brown, Ed Balls, Mandelson, et al. it's too late, we know what you do! We've seen through your lies and spin, your diversionary tactics, your "a good time to release bad news" mentality.
WE ARE NOT ALL GOING TO DIE FROM PIG FLU AND WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOUR MIS-MANAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMY!!!!
Go now....sign the no.10 petition for Brown's resignation
- Ronnie, Billericay UK
Pantastic amounts of money are being made out of hyping this up to flog flu vaccines, face masks, syringes and shares in companies that make them.
- Julian, Walthamstow
Maybe it was decided at the G20 meeting to wait a couple of weeks and then start a panic about something to detract from the World economic crisis.
- John, London
As an Ealing resident should I dash across the border into Hammersmith and Fulham to escape being one of the 4,235 people targeted?
- Paul, Ealing
In 2005, a very senior WHO official told us that, any time soon, a worldwide epidemic of Asian bird flu could kill "150 million people". The actual death toll from bird flu to date is around 200, barely double the number already dead when that hysteria was at its height. Only here and there in recent days, as Mexican flu rages through the headlines, have a handful of voices suggested that we should keep some sense of proportion on what is happening.
As California's governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declares a state of emergency because 60-odd Californian schoolchildren have contracted Mexican flu, without any so far dying, it is pointed out that normal flu strains cause 36,000 deaths in America every year. When a Scottish couple are rushed into an isolation ward after returning from their Mexican honeymoon with swine flu, Michael O'Leary, the boss of Ryanair, asks: "Will the Edinburgh couple die? No. A couple of Strepsils will do the job."
- Kate, London
Current number of fatalities from cases not directly from Mexico? Zero.
The WHO really should be more considered and responsible with their PR.
- John Bloomfield, Twickenham
A pandemic of spin is on our doorsteps. Whilst the shredding machines in the M.p.'s expenses room runs white hot we are being fed vague statistics about how we may die. At the same time people arriving from Mexico walk in unchecked.
After 12 years of lies, spin and deceit I can no longer believe one single jot that come from the Government.
- Roger, Surreu
Put into perspective, hundreds of thousands die from normal flu every year. Unless the strain alters (or the Govt knows something we don't), I doubt we have much to seriously worry about.
- Yvonne, Doncaster, UK
I agree with being prepared for the worst, but rather than keep us pumped full of fear with overblown statistics like this 94,000 dead stuff, why not just keep the plan under wraps until armageddon actually strikes?
- Cheer-Up-Emo-Kid, London
Well spotted Anon. It does seem as if there is diversion strategy at work. I also notice the news has left off of items like Ministers blunders and incompetence, bankers getting bonuses with Tax Payers money and the like. Oh Well, Ho Hum!
- Enuff, London
Is this to enforce further draconian laws in a similar manner to those introduced under the guise of the terrorist threat?
- Vision Aforethought, Oxford & London
And we must add to this current threat the prospect of a new rat-related plague affecting the UK populace, thanks to Labour’s 2-week bin policies. Rat population has risen sharply since they brought in this AWC madness and a hot summer can only heighten the danger. Scientists have discovered rats which are resistant to warfarin and also ones carrying a new potentially lethal virus that can be passed on to humans. Tests for monthly waste collections were recently being debated so imagine the fun that will create for us if they decide to inflict it on the masses. How much of this nonsense will the UK populace take before they say NO to the dictators in grey suits? History will look back on these farcical times and think it was all some sick joke. We are being ruled by idiots, that much is now proven.
Pat Regan, author of Dirty Politics and Founder of Save Southport Greenbelt
- Pat Regan, southport
The "Swine Flu" is a great diversion from the UK's economic and political troubles. The government must be loving it.
- Mark H, London England
Remember the thousands who were going to die of CJD? It si SO irreponsbile of the authorities to announce these 'estimates'. How did they arrive at 94,000? Why not 93,500, or 94,200? Instead of spreading panic, why don't they apply some common sense. Every single person arriving from Mexico should have been given Tamiflu at the airport and told that should symptoms develop they should start the course immediately. As it is we hear of people who have been diagnosed to have the virus and are not able to get the drug! Where are the millions of doses we keep hearing about. Give them to those at risk NOW! Who is at risk? people who have come back from Mexico.
- Beatriz, London
Where do they get these vague numbers from ? It is pure meaningless guesswork.
It seems funny that out of a country of 100m people in Mexico so many tourists can bring the disease home to us yet so few have it in Mexico. Cancoon must be a dreadful place. I suppose it is a cheap place to go to.
- Michael, Kensington, UK
The truth seems to be that no-one knows the truth or what form the virus will take. Frightening people does not help. Wait and see is what the experts are saying. They are not saying be afraid. Wait and see. No doubt if it does turn out for the worst, we will be treated with the most amazing ineptitude and incompetence.
- Jilly, London
Thousands of people die each year from seasonal flu outbreaks. Similar numbers die as a result of smoking. At the moment we have 7 people infected with swine flu in a country with a population of 60 million. Time for some perspective. At least it takes the spotlight away from the governments failings.
- Bill, Hereford, UK
This flu thing does not worry me a bit. A few years back we had avian flu, which cost the lives of few people in far away lands out a population of 6.8 billion, but as soon as it had a chance of coming to a Western country the doom-mongers are out and it's the end of civilisation as we know it. Each day, every day of every year around 5,500 - 8,300 people die from Malaria and there's not a single utterance!
What does really worry me is that one our immigrant, either legal or otherwise, will bring something a lot more exotic to London than a simple viral infection and we will not be prepared for that!
- Mark, South-East London
Do they know something we don't more people have been killed on the roads over the last few days than by the flu pandemic - what's going on with the country - lets just focus on getting rid of that idiot gordon brown shall we.
- Edriordan, wisbech
I hope it does,it's murder getting home in the rush hour these days what with the massive infux of people deciding to live here..
- Steve, London
This has really cheered me up. Not sure whether to down tools, log-off, & go off to spend a day at leisure before Doomsday strikes..
What about those who don't live in London any more but commute in regularly for work- can we tell our bosses that we'll work from home from now on? If we pick up the virus, we'll all take it back to our home towns in the evenings...
- Deflated, Colchester
It really does amaze me that the government rules by fear. By stating stats like the story above the less well informed will panic. It would be great to see what bills were passed over the last few days that will impact our lives for years to come. (It's strange how this has come about just days after one of the most inept budgets of any era)
- Anon, london
