asked the Minister for Health the steps which have been or will be taken to prevent the spread of Hong Kong 'flu.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Hong Kong 'Flu.
96.
Since early October, 1968, when I became aware of the possibility of the new, A/2Hong Kong/ 68, strain of influenza virus reaching this country, my Department has been in close contact with health authorities in the matter.
Chief Medical Officers were advised to keep the situation in their areas under review; to make arrangements so that they would have early warning of any untoward rise in the incidence of influenza; to make the public aware of the simple precautions they could take to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the risk of complications.
In the meantime my Department had been making every effort to obtain supplies of the special vaccine against the Hong Kong strain. The vaccine has been in very short supply but I am glad to say that we have been successful in obtaining supplies of vaccine for those needing immunisation as a priority on medical grounds. Some of this vaccine has already been distributed.
Could the Minister say how many people could be immunised by the vaccine already available?
Five thousand doses have already been distributed and 30,000 doses were brought in by one of the bigger firms for commercial distribution over which, of course, we would have no control.
Could doctors requisition them directly from commercial firms?
Yes, but I think that, having regard to the fact that only 13 cases have so far been confirmed, we would be able to cope with, we hope, all cases.
Is the infection on the wane elsewhere?
Yes.
So, if we continue praying we shall be all right?
It is very much on the wane in the United States which means that we could get more of the vaccine. We had 70,000 units of the vaccine and since the virus is very much on the wane in America we should now be able to supplement what we have.