SURGE IN DEMAND FOR FLU VACCINES IN BALEARICS

By Humphrey Carter BALEARIC chemists have reported a rush on anti-flu vaccines over the past few days as fears about bird flu spread. The Balearic is one of three areas of Spain where a sudden surge in demand for vaccines has been experienced and, should demand continue or increases, chemists are in danger of running our of anti-flu vaccines. Despite assurances from the Balearic Ministry for Agriculture that the there are no causes for concern in the Balearics with stringent and regular checks being carried on poultry farms - some sectors of the public are no convinced. President of the Co-operative of Chemists in Majorca, Ibiza and Formentera, Eladio González, admitted yesterday that if people continue to buy flu vaccines at this pace, stocks will start to run out. Yesterday afternoon, Madrid ran out of anti-flu vaccines. The Balearic College of Pharmaceuticals yesterday said that is has been inundated by questions from its members about this year's 'flu campaign and the vaccine. Chemists have been advised to continue, as normal, with the annual flu vaccine campaign and that only the young, elderly and infirm need the vaccine. In an official comnunique to all its members, the College pointed out that, as yet, no cases of bird flu have been detected in neither birds nor humans in Spain, so there is no need for chemists nor members of the public to be alarmed. What is more, how effective the 'flu vaccine would be against a human strain of bird flu remains to be confirmed. The communque also explains that bird flu can only be contracted by human through contact with an infected animal. At the moment, the bird flu virus can not be passed from humans to humans although the medical sector dies no know how long, if ever, the virus will take to mutate into a human strain. The Spanish Ministry for Health repeated its assurances yesterday that the situation is under control and every precaution is being taken but no one of leaving anything to chance. Next week, Son Llatzer Hospital in Palma will be holding a special conference on bird flu for local doctors. The lecture will be given by one of the hospital's experts and apart from explaining what the virus is and its characteristics, doctors will also be given advice on how to react should they come across a case of bird flu in the Balearics. The Ministry for Health in Madrid announced yesterday that a new national 'flu control board is going to be set up and each participating regional authority will be entitled to have three representatives on the board of the new task force. The new control group is being created to monitor the development of the 'flu epidemic this winter. Once established, the Spanish Health Ministry and participating regional health services, will take part in a European Union-organised simulated exercise of how the medical and emergency services should react in the event of a human 'flu pandemic.