‘Flu drug shortage puts millions at risk’

EUROPE does not have enough anti-viral drugs to tackle an influenza pandemic that could wipe out millions within weeks, Health Minister Micheál Martin admitted yesterday.

And, he said, Ireland does not have the drugs to deal with the type of outbreak that could hit any time.

“We brought some anti-viral drugs in a year ago to deal with the avian flu scare, but the stockpile is not enough because we were competing with other EU countries to buy them,” Mr Martin said.