Swine flu 'worse than terrorism'
Updated on 16 July 2009
The Department of Health says that 29 people have now died in the UK after contracting swine flu, after a senior policeman warns that it is a bigger threat than terrorism.
At a weekly Department of Health brief, a spokeswoman said there had been 26 deaths in England and three in Scotland so far due to swine flu.
It comes after GPs criticised the government's response to the flu pandemic, accusing it of giving conflicting advice to doctors and patients.
The head World Influenza Centre, Alan Hay tells Alex Thomson "he would think twice about attending large public gatherings."
Swine flu 'worse than terrorism'
As a swine flu vaccination programme is planned a top policeman tells Julian Rush that in some scenarios emergency services will have to put non-emergencies on hold.
The policeman said that in a worst case scenario forces may need to consider suspending non-emergency work.
Government preparations are underway for a developing pandemic with lists being drawn up for what groups should be given priority in a vaccination programme.
Science correspondent Julian Rush said:
"The policeman is responding to exactly what the contingency plans say. It is inevitable that as people get sick people will be off work and it will be difficult for companies and organisation like the police, fire brigade and the NHS itself to be able to provide the level of service.
"The NHS is already making plans to not carry out unnecessary operations to make room for the treatment of swine flu victims and because they won't have enough to do it all if they are off sick.
"The government still insists that the first vaccine will arrive at the end of August. It will be a beginning if a batch and they should have enough for, by the end of the year, half the population.
"What is not clear though is that when it arrives in August whether it will be available straight away or whether it has to be tested."
The government will be clarifying in the next few weeks who gets the vaccine. The exact details of who gets what and exactly how it is going to be administered is still being worked out but the particular vaccine priority groups are:
- Children: 3 to 16-year-olds
- Pregnant women: in second or third trimester
- Healthcare workers involved in patient care
- Pensioners: 65-years-old and over
