UK steps up alert for swine flu: "Better-prepared than ever before"

[Bluebear]

Surveillance arrangements were being "stepped up" in the UK to be ready for a possible swine flu outbreak, the Department of Health (DoH) has said.

The move comes as an emergency meeting of European health ministers is to be arranged "as soon as possible" in response to the outbreak in Mexico.

Officials said the UK should expect to see an outbreak of the virus...

Professor Hugh Pennington, a microbiologist who has advised the government on other public health issues, said the country was well-prepared. He told the BBC that all civil contingency plans were in place, health authorities were ready and well-stocked with Tamiflu anti-flu medicine.

He said: "We are better-prepared than we have ever been before, so I think that's some reassurance for the public."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8020222.stm

[dipsydoodle]

1. There is apparently enough Tamiflu in stock

for 50% of the population.

However - its effectivness remains to be seen. It was designed to reduce severity : not provide a cure.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/tamiflu.asp

Spanish case now confirmed. Buried in here somewhere : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8019882.stm