Flu pandemic plans unveiled - News in brief - Evening Standard
       

Flu pandemic plans unveiled

The Government plans to double the stock of antiviral drugs to cover at least half the population in the event of a flu pandemic, it has been announced.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson set out new measures to tackle a future pandemic, which he said was one of the "most severe risks currently facing the UK".

The UK-wide plan includes the purchase of 14.7 million courses of antibiotics to help tackle complications that could lead to death.

The Government also aims to buy 350 million surgical masks and 34 million respirators for frontline NHS and social care staff.

The measures are for a "reasonable worst-case scenario", which would see between 25% and 50% of the UK population infected.

Experts predict that up to 750,000 extra deaths could occur in the UK as a result of a pandemic, with up to half the population developing illness.

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