Vol. 555 No. 3
204 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of supplies of smallpox and other disease vaccines which are held nationally for use in the case of a chemical or biological terrorist attack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18453/02]
In the wake of the events of 11 September 2001 in the USA, I established an expert committee under the chairmanship of Professor Bill Hall, director of the virus reference laboratory, to develop a contingency plan which would be activated in the unlikely event of a biological attack in this country. In preparing the plan it was necessary for the committee to identify the level of risk of such an attack. The committee considered that although the risk of a primary attack here was low, the secondary consequences of an attack in another country was the more likely threat.
Based on the recommendations of the expert committee I approved the purchase of specific antibiotics and vaccine which would be required in the event of a biological attack with specific Class A agents. The following quantities were secured: 2.5 million doses of Ciprofloxacin, oral and 16,000 doses of Ciprofloxacin (i/v) for the treatment of anthrax; 600,000 doses of smallpox vaccine for use in the event of a confirmed case of the disease and 20 vials of Cidofovir, anti viral for treatment of smallpox.
These products will complement the existing stocks of medicinal products for the treatment of these diseases. There is a considerable quantity of antibiotics and other therapeutic substances against the range of biological agents that can potentially be used in biological attacks. The Irish strategy on smallpox vaccination is broadly based on WHO guidelines which includes the identification of persons with smallpox, the tracing of contacts and the vaccination of these groups.
In the event of a case of smallpox occurring, the expert committee contingency planning for biological threats will provide advice on the management of the situation, including the issues of vaccine use and dilution based on the specific circumstances prevailing at the time.
