This week, the British Government warned that at least 50,000 people could die in Britain and possibly many more if such a pandemic struck.
That warning claimed that up to one quarter of the population could be affected if a lethal strain of bird flu, which has led in Asia to 42 deaths out of 55 recorded cases, reached Britain.
Health and Social Services Committee chief executive Mike Pollard said today that although there appeared to be no immediate risk, there could be major implications from this breaking news.
‘Jersey must consider this issue in a cool, calm and collected way.
At the same time, we must also prudently protect the Island’s population from such a threat,’ he said.
The first step Island health authorities are taking to guard the interests of the population is to ensure that Jersey and its needs are fully recognised in their own right by the Consortium of Vaccine Producers – a group made up of the world’s giant drug producers.
