Anushka Asthana, Jo Revill and Helena Smith (Extracted from "GPs told prepare for 14 million flu victims", The Observer, 16 October 2005)

"The bird flu crisis moved a step closer to Britain's shores yesterday as the country's most senior medical adviser demanded that all doctors draw up emergency plans to distribute 14 million doses of drugs to combat the disease. As the deadly virus entered Europe for the first time with confirmed cases in Romania, Sir Liam Donaldson said that all of Britain's 34,000 GPs would be told to prepare for a massive influx of patients if a bird flu pandemic hit the country."

[Ed The primary responsibility of government should be the protection of its citizens. The Tamiflu drug mentioned above will have no direct effect on the H5NI virus if it enters the country. It is almost a placebo. What Tony Blair should be doing is to build at least half a dozen vaccine production units in the country -- to bring out the appropriate vaccine as soon as possible when necessary -- and a diagnostic laboratory in every major city in order to take quarantine decisions as quickly as possible when necessary.]