DMAQuote from the Royal Society paper below. So is the UK...

DMA

Quote from the Royal Society paper below.

So is the UK Government going to follow the advise or ignor it? Seems to be the latter at the moment.

DMA I think politicans and senior public servants are just interested in being seen to do something, need not necessary be the right thing to do. Once they got a stockpile, its a waiting game as to whether the bird flu will become a pandemic. They perceive it to be safe to say "ongoing review" and not spend anymore money. This way they can just sit on the fence, without electoral risk.

Don't think they are really interested in worst case scenarios of potential futures with mass deaths. They can blame it on other matters. If their jobs are on the line, it might be different.


QUOTE

Antivirals
Antivirals are likely to be the first line of defence in the
event of an influenza pandemic and as such form the
backbone to pandemic preparedness both in the UK
and globally. They will be essential in trying to contain
an initial outbreak wherever it occurs and in reducing
transmission and illness. Owing to the uncertainty about
the effective dose of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) for different
viruses, we recommend that the Department of Health
continues to review the size of the current stockpile of
oseltamivir and considers whether the stockpile should
be used for large-scale prophylaxis as well as for
treatment. We also recommend that as a matter of
urgency the Department of Health revisits the decision
not to stockpile zanamivir (Relenza) at the same level as
oseltamivir, especially for use where resistance to
oseltamivir is suspected. Moreover, we recommend that
the Department of Health and the Medical Research
Council (MRC) support research during the early stages
of a pandemic to determine ways to use the current
antivirals most effectively and to ensure the continued
development of new anti-influenza drugs.

END QUOTE

QUOTE

Recommendation 15 - The Department of Health should continue to review the size of the current stockpile of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and as a matter of urgency revisits the decision not to stockpile zanamivir (Relenza) at the same level for use especially where resistance to oseltamivir is suspected.

END QUOTE