Nov 10 (Reuters) - Here are some details about measures taken to fight the new H1N1 swine flu, a mixture of swine, bird and human viruses and which has killed 6, 500 people globally, according to the latest European Centre for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC) tallies.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an H1N1 pandemic on June 11, indicating the first influenza pandemic since 1968 was under way. The H1N1 pandemic flu virus could kill up to 40, 000 people across Europe and be followed by seasonal flu waves that could kill the same number, European health experts said last week. The WHO has advised governments to prepare for a long-term battle against the virus. Here are some details about those measures taken around Europe.
LATEST MEASURES BY GOVERNMENTS: BRITAIN – Britain started a vaccination programme from Oct. 21 for high-risk patient groups including hospitalised patients, frontline healthcare workers and young children with health problems like asthma or other respiratory conditions.
BULGARIA – Bulgaria declared national epidemics on Nov. 6 due to the quickly rising numbers of the infected people. The health ministry has recommended organising public events be limited. All schools across the country have been shut down for a week (to Nov. 13) to prevent further spread of the virus.
CROATIA – Says 50, 000 additional doses of antiviral drugs will be distributed to doctors. Vaccination started on Nov. 5 and the health authorities are urging all citizens to take part.
FRANCE – France’s mass vaccination campaign against H1N1 flu got off to a shaky start, with low take-up among hospital staff who were first in line and allegations that government advisers received funding from pharmaceutical firms. Vaccinations began on Oct. 20 for front-line hospital workers. A general vaccination programme is to start on Nov. 12. — France has ordered 94 million doses of anti-H1N1 vaccines, at a cost of 808 million euros ($1.2 billion), to cover its population of 64 million.
GERMANY – Germany began a campaign to vaccinate against H1N1 two weeks ago, but has been held back by a lack of doses. The federal states have ordered 50 million doses which are gradually being delivered.
HUNGARY – Hungary has started a school vaccination campaign and public officials, including the health minister and the prime minister, were vaccinated on TV. — The country would be protected from a full-fledged epidemic if 60 percent of the population was vaccinated, authorities have said. The vaccine is produced locally by the Hungarian pharmaceutical company Omninvest.
IRELAND – Ireland launched a national vaccination campaign from Nov. 2, with priority given to people considered at risk of developing complications, including patients with a chronic disease and pregnant women. NETHERLANDS – Health authorities started vaccinations of risk groups on Nov. 9, widening initial plans to also include children aged from 6 months up to and including four-year-olds. — The government bought 34 million vaccine doses, enough to supply the population twice over, but now expects to only use 11 million doses. It plans to sell the excess to other nations.
ROMANIA – Romania’s Supreme Defence Council has 1.3 million doses of vaccine that could be used starting at the end of this month. The interior ministry has intensified monitoring of cross-border transit to identify potential cases of infections.
SERBIA – A government work group is discussing whether to recommend health minister Tomica Milosavljevic declare an epidemic throughout Serbia or in individual regions. The health and education ministries extended a school holiday that started on Nov. 5 until Nov 16. — Media has said the government is likely to purchase a total of 3 million vaccines from Novartis. If the deal happens, the first batch of 500, 000 doses should be delivered in December and administered to priority groups (children, elderly, patients with chronic diseases and health workers).
SLOVENIA – Vaccination started Nov 2. Slovenia recorded its first death from swine flu on November 3.
SWITZERLAND – Expects vaccination campaigns against H1N1 flu to start in mid-November. It has ordered 13 million doses from GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis.
UKRAINE – Parliament has approved an additional $1 billion for medicinal supplies. Extra supplies of swine flu medicine have begun to arrive. — The government has imposed measures such as a ban on public meetings, including political rallies ahead of a January presidential election, and closing schools for three weeks.
