PREPARATIONS for an "inevitable" flu pandemic are taking place across York and North Yorkshire.
The North Yorkshire Health Protection Unit (NYHPU) has welcomed plans, just published by the Health Protection Agency and the Department of Health, to protect the public in the event of an international outbreak of the influenza virus.
The new plans set out how organisations will work together across health services to respond to a pandemic.
Multi-agency pandemic flu exercises involving the NHS, local authorities, police and prisons have taken place across the region and previous plans, have also been reviewed.
Dr Ebere Okereke, a consultant in communicable disease control for the North Yorkshire HPU, said the latest plans were an important step to ensure local communities were protected.
She said: "The publication of the plans helps us to continue our preparation and planning for a flu pandemic. The World Health Organisation has said that a flu pandemic is inevitable. As a result, the NYHPU has been working closely with primary care trusts, hospitals, the ambulance service and local authorities.
"The people of North Yorkshire should rest assured that the lessons learned from the exercise are being implemented to ensure that we are well prepared to respond to the real thing."
Updated: 10:19 Thursday, March 03, 2005
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