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HHS buys additional antiviral medicine to prepare for potential influenza pandemic

Infection Control Monitor, March 3, 2006

In a HHS press release, Secretary Mike Leavitt announced the purchase of additional antiviral drugs health officials can use in the event of an influenza pandemic. The department ordered 1.75 million treatment courses of antiviral drug zanamivir (Relenza®) from GlaxoSmithKline and 12.4 million treatment courses of oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu®) from Roche. The Strategic National Stockpile already has 5.5 million treatment courses of antiviral drugs ready to be given to states if an influenza pandemic strikes.

"Having a stockpile of antiviral drugs is an important part of our pandemic influenza preparedness plan," Leavitt said. "These purchases are a continuation of our aggressive multi-pronged approach to a potentially critical public health challenge."

In addition to this purchase, President Bush has outlined a coordinated government strategy that includes establishing the new International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, stockpiling antiviral medications, enhancing domestic capacity to develop and manufacture influenza vaccines and dose-sparing technology, expanding early-warning systems domestically and abroad, and new funding and initiatives for local and state level preparedness.

More information on pandemic preparedness is available at www.pandemicflu.gov.

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