§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what preparations his Department has made in the event of an outbreak of(a) tularaemia, (b) viral haemorrhagic fever, (c) plague and (d) botulism. [122099]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonGuidance on the management and control of viral haemorrhagic fevers was produced by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) in December 1996.
The Department of Health published specific guidance in October 2001 concerning the public health response to a deliberate release of botulism, plague or tularaemia. This advice is available on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/epcu/cbr/response/introph.htm
It is complemented by operational guidance and advice for professionals and the public, developed in conjunction with the Health Protection Agency and hosted on their website at http://www.phls.org.uk/ topics_az/deliberate_release/menu.htm
In preparing to respond to a deliberate release or large outbreak involving these agents, the Department holds a national stockpile of antibiotics and anti-toxin required for treatment of plague, tularaemia and botulism.