No confirmed cases
Confirmed cases
Preparations
On 27 April, UK health secretary Alan Johnson stated that Britain has a stockpile of 33 million courses of antiviral drugs effective against this strain, enough for one course for around half of the UK's population.[8][42] On 30 April, Alan Johnson stated that the government was obtaining extra antiviral drugs that would protect 50 million people, amounting to more than three-quarters of the UK population.[43]
There is a pandemic plan covering topics from distributing the drugs and setting up helplines to closing schools and banning public events which was tested in a large exercise in 2007.[8][37][44] There is also a specific response plan for London.[45]
It should be noted that oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), the 2 antivirals known to be effective, must be taken within 48 hours of onset of symptoms or earlier to be effective;[46] the positive effects are greatest if treatment is started within 6 hours.[47]To be effective stockpiled supplies must be made available to patients within this timescale, regardless of weekends and holidays.
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