'No cause for alarm' over pandemic flu

The 55 odd calls being made every day to the influenza pandemic hotline indicate the people are somewhat confused about the issue, the chairman of the National Influenza Pandemic Standing Committee, Tanya Melillo, said.

She said people were confusing seasonal influenza with the avian influenza and pandemic flu.

Dr Melillo insisted there was no cause for alarm.

She pointed out that information disseminated by sections of the media was not always correct and some doctors and pharmacists were not giving the correct information to the public either.

A hotline was opened on July 29 to meet the demand by the public for information about the pandemic, which experts believe could hit the world anytime.

Interest in the influenza pandemic increased following a press conference last month to announce steps being taken by the government to protect people against the pandemic.

"I think interest has reached its peak because people are booking their seasonal vaccines and antivirals, which they will have by winter," she said. Dr Melillo said the most common queries were about who is eligible for the seasonal vaccine that will be provided free of charge and the role of the vaccine and the antivirals.

She said people were also asking whether the government would be providing antivirals for free.

The hotline - 2132 4086 - is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dr Melillo explained that seasonal influenza, avian influenza and the pandemic flu were three different things.

Seasonal flu occurs every winter and the available vaccine should shield a person from getting sick.

On the other hand, people eating poultry infected with the avian virus will contract the avian flu. The virus is found in chickens and wild birds mainly in Asia.

The pandemic influenza is likely to come about as a result of the avian influenza mutating into a virus that could be transmitted among humans.

The vaccine for the pandemic virus will only be manufactured after the pandemic breaks and the virus causing it is identified.

"There is also confusion surrounding antivirals. These are not injections but a medicine used to treat people infected with influenza A or B," Dr Melillo said.

For the first few months after the pandemic starts, antivirals will be the only medicine to treat people suffering from the pandemic influenza. Once the vaccine is available, it will be given to everyone to prevent further illness caused by the virus.

"All those who develop symptoms of the flu must inform their doctor within the first 12 to 24 hours from when the symptoms start. The doctor will confirm whether or not the patient is suffering from the pandemic influenza and prescribe antivirals, if that will be the case.

"For antivirals to be effective, they must be taken within 48 hours of developing the symptoms," she said. Antivirals help reduce viral shedding, shorten the period of illness, reduce the severity of symptoms and could lead to a reduction in complications.

Antivirals needed to be used judiciously because if abused they can cause the virus to become resistant to them, Dr Melillo warned.