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Preparations are under way to create mass graves to cope with a second outbreak of swine flu in the autumn.
The government plans, outlined in a Home Office document, warn that a burial site may need to be created to cope with the potential crisis.
The proposals, discussed at a meeting of Whitehall officials and council leaders last month, will affect those areas where there may not be enough graves for victims of the illness.
Within weeks of a full-blown pandemic, the number of burials could more than double and inner city areas “may experience a shortage of grave space”, according to the report.
The Framework for Planners Preparing to Manage Deaths — a 59-page document — discusses using “a grave that is for a number of unrelated persons, excavated mechanically in advance and designed for efficient preparation and use.”
It said this approach would create a “burial site for multiple graves and consecutive burials” but added there must still be “marking of the position of individual burials”.
It added that some cemeteries “may experience shortage of grave space, in particular in inner city areas”.
Freight containers and “inflatable” storage units may be needed to provide extra mortuary space. But it stated that “refrigerated vehicles and trailers should not be used”.
During the meeting, in which a senior official from Westminster council, gave a presentation, officials discussed the need for cemeteries and crematoriums to work seven days a week and the hiring of extra staff to cope.
The report also warned there may be a need for more “basic and shorter services at the chapel” or for “memorial services” to be held at a person's home instead.
Whitehall officials are also speaking to coffin makers to see if they could meet demands.
Retired doctors may also be called back to work to issue death certificates so GPs can focus on patients.
According to the document it may no longer be possible to bury some people in family plots and it may also become impossible to fly home the bodies of Britons who die abroad.
Meanwhile, NHS Blood and Transplant appealed to the public to give blood to avoid stocks being reduced over the autumn and winter as regular donors fall ill with swine flu. People cannot give blood when they have flu so it is important to keep the blood banks well stocked, it warned.
* London schoolgirl who almost died with swine flu while on holiday in Greece has left hospital. Natasha Newman, 16, from Highgate, spent six weeks in hospital in Athens after falling ill on a family trip to Cephalonia. She will return to Britain at the weekend.
Reader views (39)
It appears all of our governments are out of control.
- Noel Duquesnay, New Orleans USA
My God are we sure it is not the black death come to visit us again,within a month it probably will be.We must cancel all activities where people meet,i.e,football matches,demonstrations and of course elections.
- John, benidorm,spain
the government again, they are a waste of space, and if this flu kills millions, more jobs for the unemployed, i dont think that this swine flu is that bad ive been in contact with people that have had it and im still here and im healthy no syptoms of flu what so ever, just the government trying to get people in to a panick, chil-lax peeps, whatever will be will be, it wont come to mass graves, look at the bird flu no one talks about that anymore,
- Micheal Cooke, wednesbury
Boo Bloody Hoo.
Just had it,felt a bit offish for a couple of days now ok,the whisky worked wonders.
At 71 never had an antiviral jab in my life and won,nt start now.
Phoned the Pig Flu call centre,might as well have spoken to outer mongolia some muppet asked me stupid questions and then said it sounds like you could have it,I asked him was he a medical person or was he reading off a crib sheet,he did,nt answer other than I should contact my local centre and organise a pig flu friend to pick up the medicine,I did,nt bother.
More seriously this nuliebour marxist bunch of incompetants are at their alarmist tricks again,mass graves I ask you what are we talking about the black death,I dont see any other country hyping this up.
When will they cotton on the only illness this country wants to be rid of is nuliebour who are frankly a plague on our country.
- Roy.C, wigan.england.
Sounds like foot & mouth all over again.
- Dave, NW London
Use some of these graves to bury this rotten,
despicable, anti-English government.
- Lb, Bromley
Your Government must be using this as a distraction manouver to detract attention from some of its many failures.
The Danish Government calls this a flu like any other flu. Some will die, as with all other flus. The risk groups are those who already have medical conditions that could be made worse by the flu.
Stop the panic, get on with life and try to focus on what your incompetent Government now is up to.
- Henrik, Skjern, Denmark
Neil, London, London UK - greater than usual nonsense this time, I see. Is what you say possible? Of course it is - just as it is possible that chocolate has an addictive component added to force people to want more, or that television is sending out subliminal message to force us to do this, that or the other (enter phobia of choice) dark deed. The list is endless - a wonderful playground for conspiracy theorists, eh?
Just because something is possible, it doesn't mean that it IS happening. It certainly doesn't mean we all have to go around fearful of shadows 24/7. Sure we have to be aware - but that's a normal part of life, as it always has been.
- Rogan, Irving
they could use the Emirates Stadium. not much happens there..........
- Jonny, London
Saves me having to invest in a funeral plan
- Jimfred, London UK
Gordon Brown as Private (we are all doomed) Fraser and Alan Johnson as Cpl Jack (don't panic) Jones. So what news are they trying to divert us away from this week ?
Afghanistan
Economic disaster
MPs expenses (still)
Migration policies
Introduction of Sharia Law
Release of Lockerbie Bomber
Postal Strikes
Unemployment totals
......................
- Simon Thomas, Alton; Hampshire, UK
I remember when “scaremonger” used to be a derogatory term. Now, it’s a requirement for any major political office.
- Peter Cox, London UK
will it ever end? i have had swine flu and honestly i dont see why the newspapers worry so much apart from the sole reason of selling copies to distraught members of the public. a joke. i was not even ill! this is just scaremongering fabricated by the government, and to be honest the people who have had this idea ought to be out of office. oh yes, they will be soon.
- George, London
This is really getting out of control. Our muppets-in-governement are having another situation to mis-handle.
- Moy, London
I think this whole thing is just being used as a dress rehearsal to see what will happen when something REALLY nasty comes along like proper bird flu. Unfortunately the dress rehearsal doesn't seem to be going very well.
- Kitty, London
I hope the "great and the good" are the first to go - and get a vaccine.
- P.M. Brown, London
Don't scoff, people. If they get away with mass vaccination, using their toxic, 'untested' vaccines, there certainly will be mass deaths.
- Ian Parker, Cobham, UK
I hope nobody is panicking!! Just make a note that when it comes to voting in a new government, hopefully next year, Gordon Brown and company should be frog marched out of the country for letting the media broadcast this utter tripe. And could I suggest that they test any new drugs PROPERLY before handing them out like sweets to all and sundry.
- Pamela Mckay, Dagenham Essex
Not bad idea,but no need as our wise MPs have already told us they have the situation under control and no need to panic.
- David, london
Talk about scare-mongering! Or is this a requirement for the people that will succumb to the un-tested, dodgy vaccine?
- Wen, Oxfordshire
When you read this tripe remember that the Minister in charge of the department dealing with it is none other than that old favourite schemer
MANDY MANDELSON
- Kedge, wilts, england
Geniune concern, or just another way of boosting the US military/industrial complex's income by ramping up the sales of Tamiflu?
- Warren H, London
Just when the hype over swine flu has started to be less in the media we then get this mass campaign to remind us ? coincidence I think. The government needs to concentrate on other issues such as getting our boys out of Afghanistan and not scaremongering people. Vaccine mass line ups for this injection that people will feel is an instant cure - has it been correctly checked considering how quick it has been made? I dont think I will be allowing my family to have it and will be sticking to known remedies and not spreading germs should we be struck down with ANY sort of flu as is the norm.
- Its-All-Hype, Middlesex
This is a novel way to tackle unemployment.
Use the unemployed to dig mass graves paying them minimum wages.
If the graves are not needed, then pay the unemployed to fill them in again.
With the frequency of major health scares, some people could have a job for life, or death, depending what happens.
- John Jones, Westminster
All we need is to resurect the Dad's Army crew, with Corporal Jones running around saying "Don't panic, don't panic" while Private Fraser chimes in with "We're doooooomed!"
- Bob Bayliss, London
They just want somewhere to bury all the unused Tamiflu without anyone finding out.
Speaking of burying things, what important news story are they trying to bury by releasing this one?
- Ian, london
Well it takes your minds of bent Bankers, and bent Politicians, for a while; a clever move by our National spivs.
Wasn't Westminster, the same Council that sold off all its grave yards for 5 pence each?
Jack Nicholson should run for Prime Minister of Great Britain; one flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, makes him the ideal candidate to run Great Britain, and I am sure our elite, will idolize his genius.
To be honest; I think the government are banking on half a million deaths from Tamiflu vaccines, as they need to reduce the population somehow, they know swine flu alone doesn’t kill too many, very fast.
The vaccines are good for old people that are more immune, than the younger population; it save putting them into care homes and paying them pensions, if they kick the bucket fast, this leaves more money to pay the young unemployed their dole money.
They say never take sweets from a stranger; well would any of you take sweeties from New Labour?
The land fit for heroes, is gone forever; so remember that in WW3.
- Mickinlondon, london.
oooh lets all stay inside and do nothing with our lives.
- Jimmyjames, london
Swine flu is natural. It's the (long expected) next pandemic strain of a dangerous virus which mutates many times every year. There was a killer pandemic in 1919 and several less deadly pandemic flus since. There are many new non-pandemic strains every winter. So far this swine-flu strain is mild, and it's sensible enough to take your chances with the flu instead of the vaccine - even on rational grounds - just as long as you are normally healthy and as long as the virus stays mild.
However, there IS cause for serious concern. The 1919 killer flu started as a pandemic of "mild" flu in 1918. The more flu there is out there, the more mutant strains will arise. The government should certainly make contingency plans (while praying that they won't be needed). I wonder how many of the conspiracy theorists posting here would have the courage of their their convictions, were a vaccine to be the only - albeit imperfect - defense against a deadly flu?
- Nigel, London
Is it the Media creating this panic or the Government. if you travel Europe, nobody is talking about this? Why only the UK? Does the government want to reduce the population next month?
- Richard Hunt, brentford UK
Autumn?
Why we're still enjoying the summer pandemic!
- Sarahn, London, UK
This panic has been brought to you by the same people that brought you the bird flu hysteria. The World Health Organisation, which has to be the worst-named institution on Earth, predicted 150 million deaths from bird flu. Actual deaths from bird flu? 200.
- Kate, London
Propaganda !
Afghanistan war, Corrupt politians, Feral youths, these are the problems which the goverment should be reacting too.
- Simon Hanley, Hanworth
This is Mass Mind Control of the general public by a Fear and Panic Campaign on behalf of a Hysterical and Desperate government.
- A.Taxpayer, london
If its that bad, ban burials and make it a legal requirement that we are all cremated.
- Peace Maker, Battersea
ANOTHER DAILY DOSE OF ALARM AND PANIC TO MAKE JOE PUBLIC LIVE IN FEAR.
- Reuben Camara, Principality of Morecambe, EUSSR
This country and its government have gone completely irrational.
- Never Eat Tuna Again, London
Good Grief just when you think the swine flu mania is dying down it rears it ugly head again ! . Can't they just leave us alone to enjoy the Summer and get on with our lives without depressing us again with the news of 'Mass Graves' what a lovely thought for the hottest day of the year !
- Linda Cliff, London
The "pandemic" is a man-made, fully planned creation of the thoroughly unpleasant people who own and manage the pharma industry. We are being set up and manipulated. People will start dying as soon as they get the vaccine. "Swine Flu" is biological warfare against the population.
- Neil, London, London UK
