Not enough stock of antiviral at CHC

In case of a full-scale pandemic, there is not enough antiviral medicines at the Commonwealth Health Center at present.

But the Department of Public Health Emergency Operations Center and the In-Patient Pharmacy at the CHC said they have already asked for more supplies from the Centers for Disease Control, the federal government agency that handles the distribution of supplies in times of disasters.

At present, there are about 3,000 capsules of Tamiflu that are ready to be released should the H1N1 influenza reaches the Commonwealth.

Anthony E. Raho, director of the Department of Pharmacy Services, said these are good enough for 300 patients.

Raho said additional supplies are expected to arrive before the end of May but he could not determine the exact volume at this point.

Aside from the antiviral medicine Tamiflu and Relenza, the incoming supply would also include emergency items like protective masks.

Right now, only Tamiflu is available in the CNMI.

The regular price of a box of 10 capsules (75mg), which is good for one patient, costs $113.29 at the PHI Pharmacy inside CHC.

The supplies at the in-patient pharmacy would be given free to patients but so far there is no order yet from the OEC to release the available supply.

Raho explained that all U.S. states and territories are entitled to receive the supplies through the Federal Strategic National Stockpile System.

As of this time, CDC is prioritizing areas with confirmed H1N1 cases like New York, California and Ohio.

The World Health Organization on Thursday raised the pandemic alert level to Phase 5 on the swine flu virus that has killed 165 people in Mexico.

This means the virus is becoming increasingly adapted to humans but may not yet be fully transmissible.

Ed Diaz of the DPH Emergency Operations Center clarified that the disease is no longer called swine flu.

“The proper term for this virus is influenza H1N1,” Diaz said.

Diaz said the EOC is on 24-hour alert because WHO’s advisory is just one step away from the highest pandemic alert level of Phase 6.

Phase 6 means there is a full-scale outbreak of the virus.

If the alert level goes up, the EOC is ready to put some of its staff at the airport to monitor incoming tourists.

Public Health program analyst Roxanne Diaz said anyone who is found with a cold or flu would be thoroughly screened or examined as part of precautionary measures.