YORK GPs have warned of the serious implications of the "bird flu" virus - but urged people not to forget the importance of the regular flu vaccine.

Dr David Fair, of Jorvik Medical Practice, said avian flu could be "very serious" if it arrived in Britain.

"It's not only all the people who would die but the people who would get ill and recover," he said. "The whole economy would grind to a halt, lots of people would become very ill and there's also all the other countries it would affect."

Last week, public health consultant Dr Louise Coole told the Evening Press experts believe a mutated form of the virus was likely to appear in Britain, possibly this winter.

She said "thorough and ongoing" contingency plans were now being prepared to ensure the authorities in York and North Yorkshire were in the best possible position to respond if this happened.

Similar plans were being drawn up in East Yorkshire.

Dr Fair said about four patients out of the practice's 13,000 had inquired about the disease in the last week.

"There are two separate issues: one about bird flu and the other about winter flu, which happens every year," he said.

"We have been running a flu awareness campaign, as have many other practices in York, but we've not had much panic about bird flu."

He said as yet, no national guidance had been issued on how to deal with a potential bird flu epidemic.

"We understand there's going to be massive problems with delivering the flu vaccine to such huge numbers of the public, then there's going to be difficulties getting medicines to pharmacies in such huge quantities."

Dr Fair said "at risk" groups would probably be vaccinated first, as with the current flu vaccine.

"There's no point in worrying at the moment because there's nothing the general public can do to make any difference at the moment."

Meanwhile, Dr Robert Markham, of the Gillygate Surgery, said the importance of the "normal" flu vaccination campaign should not be forgotten. He said: "At this stage I don't think people need to be overly concerned and people should still go out and get the normal flu vaccine; that's very importamt.

"If we're really unlucky and the virus does turn into a form that affects us then there will be advice issued at that time and the public health people will know what they're dealing with and what to advise.

"At the moment they don't know how and if it will affect us."

Bird lovers keep watch on ings

FEARS are rising that wild birds migrating from areas with avian flu could bring the disease to wetland areas - including those in North Yorkshire.

Environment chiefs are urging people with concerns about unusual bird deaths to call a new helpline.

They are considering the possibility that birds, which could be carrying the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus, could be using wetlands such as Wheldrake Ings and Fairburn Ings, near Selby.

People are being asked to look out for large numbers of unusual deaths in species that have come from Russia, which are mainly types of ducks. Although the risk of the strain reaching Britain is still considered to be low, the government is asking people to be alert.

To report unusual bird deaths, phone 08459 335577.

Updated: 10:50 Tuesday, October 18, 2005