Fear and confusion over flu pandemic

There is not enough information about the upcoming influenza pandemic, a number of people who spoke to The Times complained.

The majority of people who spoke to this paper yesterday morning said there was confusing and conflicting information around.

Valletta resident Katie Farmillo said some people were saying one thing, only to be contradicted by others. Political parties, she said, were trying to make political mileage from the pandemic, which, she added, was not fair on the public.

The influenza pandemic is likely to happen due to the bird flu mutating into a virus that could be transmitted between humans. This month, the deadly bird flu has been spreading from Asia to Russia and has reached the Ural mountains which separate Asia from Europe.

As yet, there is no vaccine against the virus which would lead to the pandemic, because the virus has not yet been identified. Once the pandemic starts, the World Health Organisation will create the seed virus, which would then be given to pharmaceutical companies for mass production. The government has placed an order for vaccine doses to cover 90 per cent of the Maltese population.

The vaccine, however, is not expected to be ready before a few months from the start of the pandemic, and during that time the availability of antivirals will be crucial. The antivirals are meant to be taken within 48 hours from the development of symptoms to shorten the period of illness and combat the possibility of serious complications.

Over the past few weeks, pharmacies have been taking orders for antivirals but the Health Division has stressed that selling them without a prescription is against the law.

Mrs Farmillo is vehemently against antivirals being booked in advance, fearing that there will not be enough for people who get really sick once the pandemic starts.

The government has reassured people that it will be stocking antivirals for 25 per cent of the population, the percentage which is thought would fall ill once the pandemic starts.

Mrs Farmillo added that antivirals were very expensive, costing around Lm16 per person.

This view was shared by a woman from Zurrieq, who said doctors should not out write prescriptions for people who had not yet fallen ill.

"People who are not sick should not be booking medicines. We risk that once the pandemic starts, there will not be enough medicine for those who fall ill, because the crucial medicines will be stocked in other people's cupboards," she said.

The government, she continued, should start taking precautions by stopping people from infected countries from entering Malta.

John Farrugia of Qrendi, Vincent Caruana of Sliema and Lino Cauchi of Zebbug are also of the opinion that there is too much confusion surrounding the influenza pandemic.

These three pensioners asked how pharmacies were taking orders for antivirals when the virus that would cause the pandemic had not yet been identified.

"We need to know what all these medicines are being used for, and how they can be beneficial to us," they said, adding that the government has said there was no need for panic.

Marisa Bugeja of Zebbug said this year she will start taking the annual influenza vaccine. Although there is no proof that this vaccine will be effective against the virus causing the pandemic, there might be some protection.

"I asked my doctor's advice. I was terrified; people are saying that around 500 will die in Malta. There is too much confusion, and that is why I went to my doctor," she said.

Mrs Bugeja's priority is her daughter.

Zabbar resident Anna Spiteri is worried about the effect of the pandemic on her two children. "I worry for them. I am frightened at the prospect of the pandemic reaching Malta."

Mother of two Louise Sciberras of Balzan said there was "no information at all" about the pandemic.

"I did not book any antivirals but for the first time this year, all the family will be taking the annual jab," she said.

Joe and Maria Borg of Qormi said they were not yet sure whether they would take the influenza jab this year. They have heard about the virus but they have put their mind at rest that the government has ordered vaccines for 90 per cent of the population.