GSK chief warns of bird flu panic

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has warned of the possibility large-scale disorder that could occur in the event of an avian flu pandemic.

A number of governments worldwide have pledged military support for the protection of manufacturing plants involved in the production of vaccines for the disease, the Telegraph reports

Jean-Pierre Garnier, chief executive at GSK, told the paper: “People don’t realise the disorder which comes from a scary event such as a true pandemic. It is not going to be the time to line up to your friendly pharmacist because there will be hundreds of people there. There will be panic episodes.”

The first human cases of avian flu, contracted as a result of close contact with live birds infected with the disease, were seen in Hong Kong in 1997, with the disease recurring in the city in February 2003, the BBC notes.

GSK recently announced its support for the first National Influenza Vaccination Week introduced by the department of health and human services and centres of disease control and prevention that will take place from November 27th-December 3rd.

The campaign week aims to raise awareness of the need for annual influenza vaccinations.