Medical technology has vital role in preventing a flu pandemic
11 November 2005
Washington DC., USA. Following President Bush’s announcement of a
national strategy to safeguard Americans from the threat of an influenza
pandemic, the Advanced Medical Technology Association of the USA, AdvaMed,
issued a statement emphasising the importance of medical technology in such
a strategy:
“The President’s strategy correctly stresses that ‘early detection is the
first line of defense.’ Our member companies are at the cutting edge in
developing rapid diagnostic tests that can confirm the presence and type of
influenza within 15 minutes. While these tests are not yet capable of
confirming specific flu subtypes, such as avian flu, they will be crucial to
the President’s plans for a global surveillance and preparedness network and
a national bio-surveillance initiative.
The rapid identification of influenza is important because antiviral
medications are only effective if administered within 48 hours after
symptoms begin. In addition, confirmation of flu will help physicians choose
the appropriate patient treatment, since antivirals would be ineffective for
conditions such as colds or pneumonia, which cause flu-like symptoms.
AdvaMed is also encouraged that the President’s strategy calls for
stockpiling critical medical supplies in case of a pandemic. The medical
technology industry produces a range of products that will be crucial in the
prevention and management of influenza. Devices such as personal respirators
and surgical masks will be needed to help prevent the spread of the disease,
while state-of-the-art ventilators and pulse oximeters will be critical in
assessing a patient’s respiratory status and managing some of the most
severe complications of influenza, such as pneumonia and other severe
respiratory diseases. In addition, influenza vaccines and antivirals will be
of little benefit without adequate supplies of drug delivery systems."
Link: www.advamed.org
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