a new influenza virus could be the greatest threat to health in Great Britain

A British government report undertaken by the Department of Health claims as many as 200,000 people could die as a result of an influenza pandemic. The report called the UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy 2011 claims that a new influenza virus could be the greatest threat to health in Great Britain.

The report also claims that half of the British population may suffer from symptoms of a new flu pandemic and the cost to the UK economy could be as much as £28 billion. Other problems identified by the report include hospitals and doctors being unable to cope with the huge number of victims and that last year's swine flu virus which spread around the world with lightning speed was an extremely mild type of influenza when compared to previous influenza pandemics.

The report identified other weaknesses in the operation of the British government such as a reduced ability to police the streets and to maintain the armed forces because of a lack of manpower due to so many of them getting sick.

While not wishing to be alarmist it should be remembered that the influenza pandemic like the Spanish flu virus which broke out in 1918 is estimated to have killed over 50 million people and other pandemics in the 1950's and 1960's killed around 8 million people.

UK governments already have substantial supplies of both Tamiflu and Relenza which are considered to be the first line of defence in dealing with the symptoms of dangerous flu viruses. The United Nations recommends that every nation worldwide has enough Tamiflu to treat 25 percent of its population but for poorer countries this is not possible.

In the UK Tamiflu will be rationed according to need and will be given to doctors and health workers first in the case of an all out influenza pandemic. It is possible to get your own Tamiflu prescription following an online consultation with an Ukmedix doctor if you want to play it safe.