Sunday Mirror, Sept 28, 1997

MILLIONS AT RISK FROM KILLER FLU

DOCTORS are preparing for a massive outbreak of killer flu this winter, Millions of people are expected to die world wide as a new strain of super-bug sweeps the globe.

And with 10 million people in a high-risk category in Britain, the Government has already alerted hospitals - and mortuaries - to the threat.

A detailed document sets out how the health service will cope with "large numbers of people ill and dying," - and includes mortuary arrangements for "a large number" of deaths.

The last severe flu epidemic to hit Britain, in 1989, killed 29,000 people.

But world health experts fear this outbreak may be even worse as there is as yet NO antidote to the new super-strain of flu discovered when it killed a boy in Hong Kong.

The World Health Organisation immediately sent investigators to work with hong Kong health experts in a bid to stop an epidemic. International virologists flew into London last week to thrash out a plan to combat the virus.

Dr Robert Webster, of St Jude's Childrens Research hospital, Memphis, said: "We must devote as many resources as possible to drawing up a battle plan for dealing with what could be a potential catastrophe."

He appealed to high-risk groups, such as the elderly or people with breathing or heart problems to get flu shots to boost their immune system.

Dr Simon Fradd, chairman of the Doctor Patient Partnership said:

"Doctors cannot wave a magic wand to treat flu and will be giving flu injections to high-risk patients.

"Otherwise, our waiting rooms will fill up - and seriously ill patients will suffer."