AlaskaDenise
In Memoriam
A THREATENED worldwide flu pandemic would hit up to 350,000 people across Berkshire, a new report has warned.
The virus would see an average of 12,000 influenza-related deaths a year across England and Wales.
A report from Slough emergency planning officer Bethan Morgan was due to go before the borough's health scrutiny panel yesterday (Thursday).
The report predicts a pandemic would affect the population in one or more waves, each lasting three months. In Berkshire, this could mean between 200,000 to 350,000 people struck down by the virus.
Slough Council met this week to discuss emergency planning should such a pandemic take hold in Britain.
In October 2006, a draft plan was put together which looked at such issues as how Slough Council might provide meals on wheels to a much wider section of the population. The borough is also looking at buying masks, antibacterial hand gel and gloves in bulk.
New Government guidelines on how the council could respond to the outbreak have just been issued. Slough Council is to review and report back by the end of this month.
There is worldwide concern that a new influenza virus, which could develop into a pandemic, will emerge.
A pandemic is not to be confused with the annual flu outbreaks which happens every winter or bird flu.
The World Health Organisation is motoring the globe for what could be a completely unknown strain of the virus, which is likely to be virulent.
Some fear it could be on the scale of the 'Plague of the Spanish Lady', a pandemic which occurred from 1918 to 1919.
Estimates put the death toll between 10 and 21 million. It is generally accepted that the figures were double those of the casualties of the first World War and almost certainly higher.
http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/...objectid=20214025&siteid=50102-name_page.html
The virus would see an average of 12,000 influenza-related deaths a year across England and Wales.
A report from Slough emergency planning officer Bethan Morgan was due to go before the borough's health scrutiny panel yesterday (Thursday).
The report predicts a pandemic would affect the population in one or more waves, each lasting three months. In Berkshire, this could mean between 200,000 to 350,000 people struck down by the virus.
Slough Council met this week to discuss emergency planning should such a pandemic take hold in Britain.
In October 2006, a draft plan was put together which looked at such issues as how Slough Council might provide meals on wheels to a much wider section of the population. The borough is also looking at buying masks, antibacterial hand gel and gloves in bulk.
New Government guidelines on how the council could respond to the outbreak have just been issued. Slough Council is to review and report back by the end of this month.
There is worldwide concern that a new influenza virus, which could develop into a pandemic, will emerge.
A pandemic is not to be confused with the annual flu outbreaks which happens every winter or bird flu.
The World Health Organisation is motoring the globe for what could be a completely unknown strain of the virus, which is likely to be virulent.
Some fear it could be on the scale of the 'Plague of the Spanish Lady', a pandemic which occurred from 1918 to 1919.
Estimates put the death toll between 10 and 21 million. It is generally accepted that the figures were double those of the casualties of the first World War and almost certainly higher.
http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/...objectid=20214025&siteid=50102-name_page.html