U.K. Plans School Closures

Several publications are reporting that the British government is making plans for school closures of up to 10 weeks should the bird flu, H5N1, mutate into a form that can pass between humans. It is believed that as many as 50,000 deaths could be prevented by this closure.

Although the possibility of this happening is still considered “remote,” the plans for the school closures are in the works. Provisions are also being made so that “that off-duty firefighters and retired lorry drivers will be pressed into service to ensure deliveries of essential food supplies in the event of a pandemic.”

The development of these plans has been accelerated by the discovery in Scotland last week of a swan that died from the bird flu.

There is also concern that there will not be enough vaccines to treat an entire family should one member become infected. “The government aims to stockpile sufficient supplies of the drugs by this autumn to treat up to a quarter of the population.”

School closure plan in case of bird flu

Bird flu: schools could close for up to 10 weeks

Schools will shut in 100,000 flu death fear