Blogger News Network

May 27, 2006 

Following the deaths of six family members on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia who died of the deadly H5N1 Avian Flu (Bird Flu) virus from human to human transmission, the World Health Organization (WHO), for the first time, has asked the makers of Tamiflu, Roche Holding AG, to be on high alert to stockpile the drug for global distribution in the event a pandemic were to occur.

"Whenever there is a cluster, we contact Roche just to let them know that if we need to send the stockpile that they should be ready to do so," said a spokeswoman for the WHO, Maria Cheng.

"We were quite keen to inform Roche quite timely, we knew Thursday would be a holiday in Europe and wanted to make sure Roche warehouses would be open," said the director of the WHO's rapid response and containment group based in Geneva, Jules Pieters.

Pieters also stated that at least 9,500 doses of Tamiflu were sent to Indonesia as a a precautionary measure along with protective gear on Friday.

However, Cheng says "we have not asked that anything be sent, and nothing from Roche has been sent."

The WHO also says that they have "no intention of shipping that stockpile" and that they consider this "a practice run," said spokesman for the WHO, Dick Thompson. The WHO also said that the virus has not mutated and so far has not shown any signs of human to human transmission outside the affected family members.

Roche Holding is expected to remain on high alert for at least two weeks.

Sources

• "WHO puts Roche on Tamiflu alert for Indonesia". Reuters AlertNet, May 27, 2006

• Margie Mason "Update 3: WHO Puts Tamiflu Maker on Bird Flu Alert". Forbes, May 27, 2006