Health Emergencies |
Protection of the life and welfare of Warwickshire Communities underpins the work of the Emergency Planning Unit.
The Emergency Planning Unit is actively engaged in liaison with the health sector, with the aim of protecting people’s health and reducing the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, poisons, radiation hazards, and other health related threats. | |
| Responsibility for contingency planning and responding to these types of incidents is largely dealt with by the Local Health Trusts, and Health Protection Agency. |
If you are involved in a serious health emergency dial 999 immediately and ask the operator for the service you require and give the details of the incident. To help you decide if you are dealing with a 'serious' situation, visit the NHS Direct Website for further guidance. |
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Flu Pandemic / Avian Influenza Information
Pandemic Influenza (Flu) is a type of influenza that occurs every few decades, and unlike the seasonal flu we see every winter in the UK, Pandemic Influenza can occur at any time of the year and would be expected to cause more serious illness and affect far more people.
There are concerns that the current avian influenza virus strain (H5N1) affecting both wild and domestic birds across South East Asia, Russia and parts of Europe, may lead to the next pandemic, though for this to happen the virus would need to be able to easily pass from birds to people. Although this has happened in very rare cases it is however usually due to close and prolonged contact with infected poultry. To become a pandemic the virus would also need to be able to pass easily from person to person to spread effectively and this has not yet happened.
The situation is being closely monitored and work ongoing to prepare emergency plans to deal with any outbreak.
More information on Avian Influenza |