Commons briefing: Swine flu statement

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ePolitix.com writes about Thursday's updated statement on swine flu from the health secretary Alan Johnson.

The health secretary has confirmed there is a high likelihood that the current outbreak of swine flu will turn into a full pandemic.

Alan Johnson confirmed that every continent now has medically-recognised cases of swine flu, with 78 confirmed cases in UK.

But he warned that there are "still many uncertainties" about the virus.

"Early studies indicate that this virus has pandemic potential," he said. And flu viruses are prone to mutation, he added.

Johnson added, however, that he does not expect the government to have to change its tactic of containment "for several weeks".

The health secretary recognised that productive steps were already being taken, with primary care trusts identifying vulnerable people in their communities and the flu phoneline being made available by autumn.

He described the flu phoneline as "groundbreaking" and "fully plugged into local heath services".

And the interim phone service, an 0800 number, will work in a similar way to NHS Direct, Johnson explained, with symptoms checked against an algorithm.

If swine flu is identified, the infected person will be given an authorisation number which can be used to obtain anti-viral drugs.

It will be fully operational "as soon as it is needed", the secretary of state said. "I am confident that once flu line is up and running, it will do everything it says on the tin."

The health secretary said that scientists were "much closer to obtaining a vaccine" and had already identified the genetic fingerprint of the virus.

It must now be developed into a vaccine strain, he told the House. "It is our intention to obtain sufficient stocks to vaccinate the entire population."

But Johnson warned that it does take a long time to make the vaccine.

Andrew Lansley, the shadow secretary for health, interrupted to inquire what progress the government had made on its stockpile of face masks.

The first round of face masks are going out to frontline NHS staff this weekend, Johnson replied.

Lansley told MPs that the Conservatives were not intending to "score points" on the issue.

But he said that Tories had repeatedly raised the issue of preparedness with ministers over the years.

"I score no points, as it were, on this," he said. But the extension of the anti-viral stockpile could have been implemented sooner, Lansley argued.

There is a "gap between what we asked about and what has been achieved", he claimed.

He inquired whether there were plans to allow those who must travel to Mexico City, for example, access to the government's medical stockpile of anti-viral drugs.

The health secretary replied that it was "a valid point" that would be raised with the relevant authorities.