T. ModestoPhD
In Memoriam
Bird flu could kill 7,400 in Cheshire<o
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http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.c...-could-kill-7-400-in-cheshire--name_page.html
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Sep 27 2006<o></o>
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Northwich Chronicle<o></o>
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UP to 245,000 people could contract 'bird flu' in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Cheshire</st1lace></st1:City> with the potential for almost 7,400 deaths.<o></o>
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That's according to a new emergency planning body responsible for preparing for major incidents across the county.<o></o>
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The Local Resilience Forum (LRF), which must also be ready for a terrorist atrocity, chemical disaster or large scale public disorder, is planning for the worst case scenario with regards to Avian flu.<o></o>
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Planners are allowing for an influenza-type pandemic in two waves, three to nine months apart, affecting a quarter of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Cheshire</st1lace></st1:City>'s 983,076 population.<o></o>
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It is anticipated the NHS could be overwhelmed with up to 100,000 consultations per week and between 1-3% of infected people dying from the disease.<o></o>
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The likelihood of such a scenario is rated as 'possible', with the outcome labelled 'catastrophic' and it is given a risk rating of 'very high'.<o></o>
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But the LRF says two exercises have taken place led by Cheshire County Council.<o></o>
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And the NHS is geared up, with plans already drawn up by the Health Protection Agency, primary care trusts and local hospitals.<o></o>
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However, the cash-strapped Cheshire West Primary Care Trust, which serves <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Chester</st1lace></st1:City>, has admitted it has more work to do on its flu pandemic action plan and emergency planning generally.<o></o>
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Superintendent Derek Barnett, who chairs the LRF, said: 'Recent events all serve to remind just how important it is to plan and prepare for the unforeseen yet inevitable threats to public safety.'<o></o>
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If the virus gains the ability to pass easily between humans it could lead to catastrophic results. Worldwide, experts predict between two million and 50 million deaths.
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> </o>http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.c...-could-kill-7-400-in-cheshire--name_page.html
<o
> </o>Sep 27 2006<o
></o><o
> </o>Northwich Chronicle<o
></o><o
></o>UP to 245,000 people could contract 'bird flu' in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Cheshire</st1lace></st1:City> with the potential for almost 7,400 deaths.<o></o><o
> </o>That's according to a new emergency planning body responsible for preparing for major incidents across the county.<o
></o><o
> </o>The Local Resilience Forum (LRF), which must also be ready for a terrorist atrocity, chemical disaster or large scale public disorder, is planning for the worst case scenario with regards to Avian flu.<o
></o><o
> </o>Planners are allowing for an influenza-type pandemic in two waves, three to nine months apart, affecting a quarter of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Cheshire</st1lace></st1:City>'s 983,076 population.<o></o><o
> </o>It is anticipated the NHS could be overwhelmed with up to 100,000 consultations per week and between 1-3% of infected people dying from the disease.<o
></o><o
> </o>The likelihood of such a scenario is rated as 'possible', with the outcome labelled 'catastrophic' and it is given a risk rating of 'very high'.<o
></o><o
> </o>But the LRF says two exercises have taken place led by Cheshire County Council.<o
></o><o
> </o>And the NHS is geared up, with plans already drawn up by the Health Protection Agency, primary care trusts and local hospitals.<o
></o><o
> </o>However, the cash-strapped Cheshire West Primary Care Trust, which serves <st1:City w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Chester</st1lace></st1:City>, has admitted it has more work to do on its flu pandemic action plan and emergency planning generally.<o></o><o
> </o>Superintendent Derek Barnett, who chairs the LRF, said: 'Recent events all serve to remind just how important it is to plan and prepare for the unforeseen yet inevitable threats to public safety.'<o
></o><o
> </o>If the virus gains the ability to pass easily between humans it could lead to catastrophic results. Worldwide, experts predict between two million and 50 million deaths.