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Influenza: Disease Control

Volume 470: debated on Monday 7 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what documents dealing with contingency arrangements for an influenza pandemic have been (a) prepared by and (b) commissioned by his Department since 1 March 2005; and if he will make a statement. (175797)

Since October 2005 the MOD has been developing a generic Pan Defence Pandemic Flu Planning Framework document. This brings together activities which, for the most part, will be undertaken by Departmental operational commands and business units. In June 2006 the Business Continuity Policy team developed a generic influenza exercise scenario with the aid of the Health Protection Agency (HPA). Additionally, the Defence Medical Services Department (DMSD) has issued periodic policy guidance to the Single Services, designed to inform defence medical professionals, beginning in October 2005 when “Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic in UK” was issued. In January 2006 DMSD produced “Use of Influenza Vaccines and Anti-virals in the event of an Influenza Pandemic”, and, in February 2007, “Pandemic Influenza—Infection Control Guidelines for Military Settings” was issued, produced by DMSD in collaboration with the HPA.

No external flu pandemic studies or reports have been commissioned.