More antivirals are needed in the national stockpile
All Americans should have access, IDSA says
The national stockpile isn’t enough. That is the alarm being sounded by at least two organizations concerned about pandemic influenza preparedness and the stockpile of antiviral medications.
Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit organization that advocates disease prevention, estimates that 500,000 Americans could die and 2.3 million could be hospitalized in the next influenza pandemic.
Even if the federal government adds 3 million courses of treatment of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) to the 2.3 million in the stockpile, as expected, it will be woefully inadequate, according to a Trust report.1
"Despite the health and economic implications of [a pandemic], pandemic planning efforts are lagging in the U.S., especially when compared to the United Kingdom and Canada," the report said. The Trust urged Congress to increase funding for the stockpile.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) also urged the Department of Health and Human Services to dramatically increase the antiviral stockpile.
In its letter, the IDSA called the current stockpile "totally inadequate and unlikely to provide any meaningful benefit to our population." The organization said it supports a stockpile that would be "adequate to treat everyone who becomes ill."
Some states have developed stockpiles of their own to ensure availability.
The potential importance of oseltamivir was highlighted by a recent report that the drug improved the survival rate of mice infected with the avian influenza strain H5N1. In a test of three dosage levels, eight of 10 mice given the highest daily dosage survived, while none of the mice given placebo survived.2
In other influenza news:
• Influenza vaccines have been added to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Anyone seriously injured by the vaccine may be eligible for compensation for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. More information is available from www.hrsa.gov/osp/vicp, or (800) 338-2382.
• Education on vaccine storage, including webcast seminars, is available free from the Dickson Co. in Addison, IL. For more information, go to [email protected].
References
1. Trust for America’s Health. A Killer Flu? Washington, DC; June 2005. Web site: www.healthyamericans.org/reports/flu/Flu2005.pdf.
2. Yen H, et al. Virulence may determine the necessary duration and dosage of oseltamivir treatment for highly pathogenic A/Vietnam/1203/04 [H5N1] influenza virus in mice. J Infect Dis 2005; 192:665-672.
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