The Supreme Council for Health has signed agreements with two pharmaceutical companies to ensure the highest standard of healthcare services to the people. “The ministry has signed contracts with two companies to provide vaccines for the people here. This includes vaccines for swine flu and common flu. The company manufacturing the common flu vaccine has assured that the vaccines will be provided by mid-September. The swine flu vaccine will be administered only after the results of trials are out and it is approved by the necessary bodies,” said Dr Mohammed Al Thani, director of the Public Health Department and chairman of the National Preparedness Committee. The latest scientific indicators show that the symptoms of both A(H1N1) influenza and common flu are similar. The A(H1N1) virus is resistant to common flu drugs. Hence the WHO has recommended two drugs — Oseltamivir/Tamiflu and Zanamivir/Relenza. “Both the drugs are available in Qatar and the national stock has sufficient quantity. So far only six people in the world have been found resistive even to these drugs. Since pharmaceutical companies are coordinating to guarantee sufficient supply of the drugs, there is no cause for concern. Companies are now racing to manufacture the swine flu vaccine and it is expected to be available by the end of the year,” he said. Use of thermal cameras at the country’s entry points helps in detecting swine flu only if the person has a high temperature. “The cameras help in detecting cases while entering the country, but most people show high temperature a few days after entering the country, so it is not effective.” To control the spread of the flu, the Department of Public Health under the health ministry has decided to make available sanitizers at public places. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=August2009&file=Local_News200908122258.xml

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