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Health teams in flu pandemic test Health teams in flu pandemic test
(about 10 hours later)
Hundreds of health officials from across Britain are due to take part in an exercise later to see how a flu pandemic would be dealt with. Hundreds of health officials from across Britain took part in an exercise later to see how a flu pandemic would be dealt with.
Officials will stay in a bunker at the Department of Health, in London, as part of the logistical exercise. Officials stayed in a bunker at the Department of Health, in London, as part of the logistical exercise.
The strategic trial is thought to be the biggest emergency planning event since the end of the Cold War.The strategic trial is thought to be the biggest emergency planning event since the end of the Cold War.
Officials estimate that a flu pandemic would affect one in four people and cause 400,000 deaths in the UK.Officials estimate that a flu pandemic would affect one in four people and cause 400,000 deaths in the UK.
In the trial scenario, the first infected person is a businessman from Surrey who recently returned from South East Asia. The NHS is ready to implement its well-rehearsed plan Sir Liam DonaldsonChief Medical Officer for England
The operation is an attempt to estimate the way in which certain aspects of the country's infrastructure, such as health, transport, education and food distribution would keep working during an outbreak. It is feared that the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has killed 167 people, mostly in South East Asia, could mutate into a form that would put millions of people at risk worldwide.
At present, this virus cannot pass easily from human to human, and remains essentially a disease of birds.
But in theory if it mixed with a human flu virus it could mutate into a much more dangerous form.
Dummy run
In the trial scenario, the first infected person was a businessman from Surrey who recently returned from South East Asia.
The operation was an attempt to estimate the way in which certain aspects of the country's infrastructure, such as health, transport, education and food distribution would keep working during an outbreak.
Health officials fear that a new strain of flu will spread globally at some point in the future.Health officials fear that a new strain of flu will spread globally at some point in the future.
Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England, said: "When a flu pandemic hits the country the top priority for the government is to protect the public.
"The World Health Organization has said that the UK is at the forefront of preparations internationally, but it is always necessary to test our responses and improve them where required.
"This exercise is another part of the continual testing, refining, and developing of our plans.
"The NHS is ready to implement its well-rehearsed plan."