South Africa: Province is short of vacine

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   Argus (Cape Town) 
NEWS
March 15, 2006 
Posted to the web March 15, 2006 

By Fouzia Van Der Fort

The Western Cape does not have enough vaccine to deal with an outbreak of H5N1, the human strain of avian flu, if the infection hits the province. 
The University of Cape Town's avian demography unit and the Taipei liaison office in Cape Town hosted a bird flu and migratory bird seminar at the university yesterday. 
Various representatives from the unit, health sciences and the Department of Agriculture discussed the implications of the H5N1 strain reaching South Africa. 
Representative for the Community Health Department in the faculty of health sciences at the University of Stellenbosch, Dr Neil Cameron, said the supply of influenza vaccinations would not be enough to meet the demand if the Western Cape was infected with avian, or even seasonal, flu. 
"The order for the annual seasonal flu vaccination went through six months ago," said Cameron. "But this amount might not be enough to meet the public demand during the upcoming flu season. There aren't enough vaccines with the current seasonal influenza to prevent the infection spreading." 
Cameron said the province would have to have a long- term investment plan to ensure the feasibility of making vaccines and anti-viral drugs available to combat avian flu. 
Faiza Steyn, spokeswoman for the provincial Department of Health, said 10 000 seasonal flu vaccines were available to those most at risk. 
"The department has enough vaccines to cover those people most vulnerable or susceptible to flu infection," said Steyn. "We intend increasing the availability of vaccines by 5 000 units, depending on the availability of suppliers." 
Steyn said the department had an avian flu contingency plan in place. Vaccination figures would be available after a contingency planning meeting today. 
She said the plan was in line with the national influenza preparedness plan, as well as the World Health Organisation. The meeting is one of many to discuss a potential outbreak of avian flu in the province, as well as annual vaccinations for seasonal flu. 
Acting chief director of health programmes for the province, Dr Keith Cloete, said these vaccines were provided at health facilities across the province. 
"Many facilities have already placed orders," said Cloete. "We are not sure whether the suppliers will be able to provide our full orders, due to an increased international demand." 

http://allafrica.com/stories/200603150415.html

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	Argus (Cape Town) NEWS March 15, 2006 Posted to the web March 15, 2006 By Fouzia Van Der Fort The Western Cape does not have enough vaccine to deal with an outbreak of H5N1, the human strain of avian flu, if the infection hits the province. The University of Cape Town's avian demography unit and the Taipei liaison office in Cape Town hosted a bird flu and migratory bird seminar at the university yesterday. Various representatives from the unit, health sciences and the Department of Agriculture discussed the implications of the H5N1 strain reaching South Africa. Representative for the Community Health Department in the faculty of health sciences at the University of Stellenbosch, Dr Neil Cameron, said the supply of influenza vaccinations would not be enough to meet the demand if the Western Cape was infected with avian, or even seasonal, flu. "The order for the annual seasonal flu vaccination went through six months ago," said Cameron. "But this amount might not be enough to meet the public demand during the upcoming flu season. There aren't enough vaccines with the current seasonal influenza to prevent the infection spreading." Cameron said the province would have to have a long- term investment plan to ensure the feasibility of making vaccines and anti-viral drugs available to combat avian flu. Faiza Steyn, spokeswoman for the provincial Department of Health, said 10 000 seasonal flu vaccines were available to those most at risk. "The department has enough vaccines to cover those people most vulnerable or susceptible to flu infection," said Steyn. "We intend increasing the availability of vaccines by 5 000 units, depending on the availability of suppliers." Steyn said the department had an avian flu contingency plan in place. Vaccination figures would be available after a contingency planning meeting today. She said the plan was in line with the national influenza preparedness plan, as well as the World Health Organisation. The meeting is one of many to discuss a potential outbreak of avian flu in the province, as well as annual vaccinations for seasonal flu. Acting chief director of health programmes for the province, Dr Keith Cloete, said these vaccines were provided at health facilities across the province. "Many facilities have already placed orders," said Cloete. "We are not sure whether the suppliers will be able to provide our full orders, due to an increased international demand." http://allafrica.com/stories/200603150415.html