13 local firms show interest in Bird flu virus antidote
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—13 local pharmaceutical companies have shown interest in manufacturing of generic version of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), a drug used to treat infections caused by H5N1 influenza virus.
It is relevant to mention that five local pharmaceutical companies were already allowed to manufacture Oseltamivir.
According to official sources, the known antiviral medicines have been registered by the Ministry of Health and local companies will soon start production of such medicines. They said that some quantity of medicine has been arranged for the emergency as oseltamivir may also help reducing the risk of spreading the flu to others. Tamiflu is a prescription antiviral medication that can be used to treat influenza infections (the flu) in children and adults, they added. The viral transport media has been supplied to the provincial health departments so that collection and transport of the samples from any suspected patients could be done properly. Toolkit for early detection and control of avian influenza cases in human has been developed and distributed to the provinces. Further, it was mentioned that the guidelines for clinical management of avian influenza in human have been distributed to all the health departments of provinces and major teaching hospitals.
Similarly, the National Institute of Health (NIH) is in close contact with the National Reference Virology Lab of Animal Sciences Institute of NARC and regularly exchanging technical information on the disease. They said the NIH has been designated as National Focal Point for co-ordinated response, technical advice and laboratory investigation as reference centre. Moreover, Public health specialists from provincial health departments have been attached with the rapid response teams of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock while provincial and regional health departments have been requested to designate focal persons.