NZ 'among best prepared' for bird flu

Dr Shigeru Omi (left) with Pete Hodgson. Picture / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand has a better chance than most countries in the region of beating bird flu, says a visiting expert.

Dr Shigeru Omi, western Pacific regional director of the World Health Organisation, said New Zealand was among the best prepared of all the states in the region to meet the challenge of the disease.

But New Zealand faced the same difficulty as the rest of the world.

"We don't know when it will come and what kind of virus that will emerge."

The most important thing was spotting the disease as soon as possible.

He rated the chances of it getting here via migratory bird as "slim", saying it was likely to be brought into the country by an infected person.

"Whether New Zealand will be able to contain that one before it will become widespread throughout the country, in my view, it should be possible," Dr Omi said.

Health Minister Pete Hodgson said New Zealand monitored flu every winter and was ready to intensify that should the bird flu threat intensify.

If a human-to-human bird flu contact was suspected tomorrow, "then we would increase our surveillance of influenza very quickly".

He was questioned about a report from Parliament's health committee last week outlining concerns ranging from deficiencies in disease surveillance, district health board planning, plans for home-based care and plans to protect critical workers to stockpiles of essential personal medicines.

Mr Hodgson said the report was based on information that was out of date.

He said it was acceptable for some regional variation in planning and said New Zealand had adequate supplies of the anti-viral medication Tamiflu.

The 10 per cent being set aside for workers exposed to the disease had been politicised, he said.

Mr Hodgson said the intensity of planning would be able to be scaled down in about four months time.

He said legislation was likely to go to Parliament next month to make it easier to combat bird flu.

The bill, which has been drafted by the Ministry of Health, is likely to allow people suspected of having bird flu to be quarantined.

- NZPA