DennisQA
04-24-2009, 09:51 PM
This is really starting to get around.
Preparing for a flu pandemic
Apr 24 2009 (http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/04/24/) by Andrew Pugh, South Wales Echo
SOUTH Wales is prepared to handle the potentially catastrophic impact of a flu pandemic, according to a top police chief.
At police headquarters in Bridgend yesterday, representatives from the emergency services met with members of the military, NHS, Assembly and local government as part of Exercise Taliesin, to work out how they would respond to a deadly strain of flu striking South Wales.
As well as pushing the NHS to breaking point, the emergence of a new flu virus could cripple the economy and communications and transport infrastructure.
There would also be widespread shortages of gas, oil, electricity, food and water – and the risk of widespread civil unrest.
Of the major threats facing the country, including flooding and other natural disasters, a flu pandemic is seen as one of the biggest.
In the event of an outbreak, South Wales Police would oversee the response to the crisis.
Chief Superintendent Cliff Filer said: “A flu pandemic is a world threat and we have to put plans in place. Exercise Taliesin is not just about testing our plan but refining it too.
“Many other countries are visiting us to see how it’s done.”
He added: “We don’t want people to be worried by this exercise – they should be reassured.”
Pandemic flu occurs when a new and highly infectious strain of the influenza virus appears.
Unlike the flu outbreaks we see every winter Wales, flu pandemics occur very rarely.
There were three in the 20th century, with the worst outbreak, in 1918, claiming more lives than were lost in World War I.
Smaller pandemics occurred in 1957 and 1968.
During the exercise yesterday, co-ordination centres were set up at the four police force areas in Wales. Members from organisations as diverse as the Red Cross and Environment Agency were asked to respond to different scenarios.
Minister for Health and Social Services, Edwina Hart, said: “A flu pandemic has the potential to cause disruption.
“We need to ensure that not only can we deal with the immediate effects but we can make sure that essential services are maintained.”
Preparing for a flu pandemic
Apr 24 2009 (http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/04/24/) by Andrew Pugh, South Wales Echo
SOUTH Wales is prepared to handle the potentially catastrophic impact of a flu pandemic, according to a top police chief.
At police headquarters in Bridgend yesterday, representatives from the emergency services met with members of the military, NHS, Assembly and local government as part of Exercise Taliesin, to work out how they would respond to a deadly strain of flu striking South Wales.
As well as pushing the NHS to breaking point, the emergence of a new flu virus could cripple the economy and communications and transport infrastructure.
There would also be widespread shortages of gas, oil, electricity, food and water – and the risk of widespread civil unrest.
Of the major threats facing the country, including flooding and other natural disasters, a flu pandemic is seen as one of the biggest.
In the event of an outbreak, South Wales Police would oversee the response to the crisis.
Chief Superintendent Cliff Filer said: “A flu pandemic is a world threat and we have to put plans in place. Exercise Taliesin is not just about testing our plan but refining it too.
“Many other countries are visiting us to see how it’s done.”
He added: “We don’t want people to be worried by this exercise – they should be reassured.”
Pandemic flu occurs when a new and highly infectious strain of the influenza virus appears.
Unlike the flu outbreaks we see every winter Wales, flu pandemics occur very rarely.
There were three in the 20th century, with the worst outbreak, in 1918, claiming more lives than were lost in World War I.
Smaller pandemics occurred in 1957 and 1968.
During the exercise yesterday, co-ordination centres were set up at the four police force areas in Wales. Members from organisations as diverse as the Red Cross and Environment Agency were asked to respond to different scenarios.
Minister for Health and Social Services, Edwina Hart, said: “A flu pandemic has the potential to cause disruption.
“We need to ensure that not only can we deal with the immediate effects but we can make sure that essential services are maintained.”