Pandemic facts

Temporary flu clinics would be set up close to health centres for patients suspected to be suffering from the flu. Other patients would be seen inside the health centre.

Patients would be classified in three categories. Those needing antivirals would be sent home after being given advice and medication while those needing further treatment would be sent home after their symptoms are alleviated.

The condition of other patients may deteriorate despite initial treatment and they might then require hospitalisation. These would be taken to hospital in stand-by ambulances and non-governmental organisations would also be asked to help with transport.

A school, church premises or gym might be converted into a clinic if a particular health centre is overwhelmed.

A telephone helpline manned by doctors around the clock would be set up to provide consultations and give clinical information.

Public healthcare workers are expected to be overstretched during a pandemic period, especially considering the significant proportion who would fall ill with the virus, and an increased workload.

In order to reduce the workload, routine non-essential services like issuing monthly prescriptions and writing sick leave certificates would be suspended and patients with chronic diseases issued with an extended prescription.

The use of antivirals

If no vaccine is available when the pandemic first hits, antivirals would be the only line of defence and would be given for free to anyone suffering from symptoms of the virus.

The contingency plan says that antivirals would be given to patients suffering from the strain of influenza causing the pandemic and to those who have shown symptoms for less than 48 hours. When taken within that timeframe, antivirals could lead to a reduction in complications, apart from shortening the period of illness and reducing the severity of symptoms.

The prescription drugs would be dispensed through the eight health centre pharmacies, one of which would be open throughout the night. The drugs can be bought from private pharmacies although they are currently sold out.

Swine flu has been responsive to two antivirals - Tamiflu and Relenza. In line with World Health Organisation recommendations, the government had bought 100,000 doses of Tamiflu, some doses of Relenza and a substantial amount of oseltamivir powder which can be turned into capsules or syrup.

Isolating the sick

People who fall ill with the pandemic virus would be asked to isolate themselves at home until they are free of symptoms, unless they need to be hospitalised.

Dr Busuttil said the law allows health officials to make isolation mandatory.

Those who have come into contact with flu patients would also be asked to voluntarily quarantine themselves for three or four days. The plan says that if implemented early enough, these measures, although interfering with personal freedom of movement, should help contain the spread of disease.

Once the influenza pandemic is confirmed in Malta, anyone leaving the island would be screened and those showing symptoms or who have a fever would be tested further.

If found to be suffering from the flu they would be stopped from travelling.

Vaccinating the nation

A three-day mass vaccination is being planned if vaccines against the virus arrive while a pandemic is in full swing. Schools, local councils or church premises around the island can be transformed into immunisation centres, each vaccinating 3,000 people daily.

If the vaccines arrive between waves of the pandemic, the vaccination would take place over three weeks. Healthcare and essential workers would be given priority in the vaccination process.

If the virus affects a particular age group more than others, these people would be given the vaccine next.

Vaccines for the strain causing the pandemic have already been ordered for 90 per cent of the population.