SCOTLAND is to get a new senior health official to take charge of plans to cope with a worldwide outbreak of the bird flu which experts fear could kill millions.

The creation of the new post - which is being advertised with a salary of up to pounds-50,000 - shows just how seriously the Scottish Executive is taking the bird flu threat.

"It is another step to ensure we are prepared for pandemic flu, '' said a spokeswoman. "We are looking for someone with the skills and knowledge to do a secondment in the health department working solely on this area."

The successful applicant will be expected to act as a source of advice and expertise on pandemic flu, and to liaise with other UK groups on their contingency planning.

The appointee will be responsible for buying vaccines for the current H5N1 bird flu strain, which experts predict could be the most likely source of a global outbreak in humans. The Executive is buying around 270,000 vaccines against the virus, to be given to priority groups, such as NHS workers.

If a flu pandemic does occur, the new role will also involve having to organise the distribution of anti-viral drugs, which it is hoped will be a first line of defence in helping to reduce the extent and severity of the illness.

The closing date for applications for the position of pandemic influenza project manager is tomorrow. The Executive spokeswoman said she could not reveal how many applications had been received for reasons of confidentiality. A team with responsibility for preparations for a flu pandemic is already in place. It includes Dr Kevin Woods, the chief executive of NHS Scotland and health minister Andy Kerr.

But the spokeswoman said the new post would be the only one dedicated to preparations for a pandemic.

"Other people in public health are obviously dealing with this as one part of the whole public health remit, which includes other public health topics, " she said. "But this person would be purely and solely dedicated to pandemic flu."

She said the position was part of a "wide range" of measures being taken to prepare Scotland for an outbreak.

Experts have warned that a global pandemic, which could kill up to 50,000 in Scotland alone, is highly probable.

It is feared the most likely trigger for the worldwide outbreak would be a mutation of the bird flu virus H5N1, allowing it to spread easily from person to person.

NEED TO KNOW

THE FACTS The Scottish Executive is recruiting a senior manager who will be in charge of Scotland's preparations for a flu outbreak over a widespread area, or pandemic.

BACKGROUND Detailed contingency plans have been drawn up outlining how the country would cope in the event of such an outbreak, which include measures such as closing schools and cancelling football matches.

NEED TO KNOW MORE?

www. show. scot. nhs. uk/sehd/ pandemicflu Scottish Executive flu website

Copyright 2005 SMG Sunday Newspapers Ltd.
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