France and Netherlands best prepared for bird flu, finds study

A study, to be launched soon, shows big differences between European countries’ level of preparedness for an H5N1 outbreak.

A study to be published in the 
Lancet
medical journal has found important differences in European countries’ level of preparedness for a possible avian influenza (AI) pandemic. The study, a draft of which has been seen by The Wall Street Journal, has analysed the national contingency plans of 21 countries against the World Health Organisation’s criteria and recommendations on the issue. “The study is likely to prove sensitive among European governments,” writes The Wall Street Journal.

The study points out that less than half of the plans consider the issue of maintaining essential services in the event of a pandemic and many fail to include the role of veterinary services to the planning. As to the stocks of antiviral drugs, such as Tamiflu, the study reveals what percentages of some countries’ populations would be covered. The stocks are said to vary from France’s 53% and from the Netherlands’ 30% to the 2% of a country that is not specified. France and the Netherlands are, overall, ranked the best prepared for an H5N1 pandemic, whereas Italy, Poland and Portugal are among the least prepared.

Criticism has been voiced over the fact that the study takes only account of the official plans, published by November 2005 and thus ignores the latest developments, new contingency plans and recent updates. Concerns have also been voiced over how well written plans alone can describe a country’s overall level of preparedness.

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