‘Half the population could be ill at once’
Tuesday 12th May 2009, 1:00PM BST.
Dick Bush of MSD International led yesterday’s presentation to businesses about how to prepare for a disaster such as a swine flu pandemic. Director of Public Health Dr Stephen Bridgman also spoke. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0771371)
SWINE flu is highly likely to come to Guernsey and we need to plan for it, according to the director of public health.
Speaking at a presentation aimed at preparing businesses for the threat, Dr Stephen Bridgman said the disease was very likely to come to the island at some stage and when it did it was important to mitigate its arrival.
‘It may be less severe than may have first seemed the case, but there are still a lot of unknowns and because none of us have seen it, we have the potential to spread it really quickly – 50% of people might become ill at any one time.’
Swine flu had already spread to 29 countries, he said.
‘Even if this turns out to be less severe, it is really important that we plan for it.’
Managing director of MSD International Dick Bush led the presentation.
He started by saying that the world was well overdue a pandemic – the last one was 38 years ago.
‘There will be very little warning.
‘It can cause high levels of sickness, disruption of critical services and severe economic loss.’
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This is a sensationalist presentation to say the least.
Influenza of all types kills over 150,000 Americans alone each year, so far Influenza A (H1N1) has taken the lives of 3 Americans, and all of those had prior medical complications that made them succeptable to a lack of natural human defence.
It is appropriate to have a Pandemic plan for the island, i.e. once identified the process for mapping its arrival and border restrictions or other contigencies depending on severity.
I would have thought that Board of Health would have a Guernsey wide Pandemic plan?
Most business have a pandemic plan in Europe, Asia etc managed by the risk and assurance teams. Oh, I forgot, there is no Risk and Assurance function in the States.
Oh well, you might want to get something for Tired Trotters, or Aching Hammies.
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