# 305
In the UK, preparations for a potential pandemic are moving forward, and this month and next that nation will conduct a large-scale drill called Operation Winter Willow to test their readiness. The tabloid newspapers occasionally come out with articles projecting death tolls of anywhere between 3 and 9 million, but the official projections are for a far more sedate 35% attack rate, and a potential death rate in the hundreds of thousands.
Today's article in the Sunday Observer states that "around a third of those affected would have a complication and a further 3 per cent would need hospital care".
Despite this somewhat conservative view, the Department of Health (DoH) believes their resources will be severely taxed in a pandemic, and are looking for ways to relieve some of the pressure.
This from the Sunday Observer:
Bird flu 'buddies' plan
Jo Revill, health editor
Sunday January 14, 2007
Everyone in Britain will be asked to name a friend or relative who would be willing to bring them life-saving medication in the event of a flu pandemic.
Under a national pandemic plan being unveiled this week, patients who fall ill with symptoms of a highly virulent form will rely on their 'bird flu buddies' to bring them emergency Tamiflu tablets, rather than a doctor or nurse.
Government planners believe the NHS would soon be overwhelmed if healthcare staff had to see every sick person before handing out packets of the antiviral medication that can lessen the complications of pandemic flu.
The tablets need to be given ideally within 12 hours of the appearance of symptoms, which include a very high temperature and difficulties with breathing.
. . .
Anyone who is seriously ill would either receive a home visit or be sent to an influenza centre - a new medical facility which would deal only with those suffering from complications, which could include people with heart disease or diabetes, or young children.
Once a pandemic begins, a central telephone help line will be established, and people with symptoms can call in. If their symptoms match the virus, they will be able to have their `buddy’ go to a central depot and collect the medicine they will need.
This should help alleviate some of the delays people would incur getting this potentially lifesaving medicine, and will avoid having sick, and potentially infected people, out and about spreading the disease.
Leaving aside the optimistic projections the DoH seems to have regarding the attack rate, morbidity, and mortality rates of a pandemic; this concept may not be perfect, but it would seem to be a pretty good idea.
