8. Latest developments and links
31st May 2004 - West Nile virus: A contingency plan to protect the public's health
The CMO has published a contingency plan to prevent and control the mosquito-borne disease West Nile virus. While risk for infection in the UK is low, there is a need to prepare for the possibility of a UK-acquired case. The contingency plan defines roles and responsibilities of parties involved in tackling the disease and presents a strategy for limiting the impact of the virus.
22nd July 2003 - Newly discovered Coronavirus is identified as the primary cause of SARS
Leading international scientists investigating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have confirmed that a novel coronavirus is the primary cause of the disease.
Reporting in The Lancet, Albert Osterhaus and colleagues from Erasmus University in Rotterdam analyse the results of investigations carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) network of laboratories.
The researchers demonstrate that the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) fulfils all of the established criteria for a micro-organism to be the cause of a disease. SARS-CoV has been found in 75 per cent of 436 patients fitting the WHO case definition of SARS, and macaque monkeys infected with the virus display lung damage similar to that observed in human patients.
Post-mortem evidence from macaques reveals that SARS-CoV infection primarily affects the lining of the lower respiratory tract with the potential to seriously compromise respiratory function.
SARS is an emerging disease that was first identified in Guangdong Province, China in November 2002. By 3rd July 2003, 8439 cases had been reported from 29 countries of which 812 were fatal.
Although WHO announced on 5th July that SARS has been contained worldwide, work continues to develop an early accurate diagnosis and to develop treatments for the disease.
May 2003 Hib Vaccination Catch-up Campaign Begins
GPs around the country are inviting all children who were between the ages of six months and four years on the 1st April 2003 to receive a booster vaccine against Heamophilus Influenzae b (Hib).
Since 1998 there has been a gradual rise in the number of children contracting a Hib infection, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia and other serious conditions. The Department of Health is now considering whether to introduce a routine Hib booster into the childhood immunisation programme.
March 2003, Independent Group to Advise on Sexual Health and HIV
The Public Health Minister Hazel Blears announced the names of members of the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV on 6th March 2003. They include health professionals involved in all aspects of sexual health who, for the next three years, will advise the Government on the implementation plan for the Sexual Health and HIV Strategy that was published in June 2002.
December 2002, Interim Smallpox Guidelines Issued
Contingency plans for dealing with a possible deliberate release of Smallpox were published by the Emergency Planning Co-ordination Unit (EPCU) on 2nd December 2002.
Although such an attack is highly unlikely to occur, the consequences of a deliberate release of Smallpox could be extremely serious. Vaccination against the disease was discontinued in the 1970s when the disease was declared eradicated.
