SWINE flu could claim up to 6,000 lives in Liverpool if the pandemic hits the city, latest figures predict.
Undertakers are receiving crisis briefings from city leaders over how to handle a high death toll from the killer swine flu virus, while mortuary and crematoria staff will be given advice about how to deal with a fatal outbreak of the disease in the city.
Liverpool has been placed under “silver command” – its second highest level of alert – to deal with the unfolding situation.
So far, there have been 25 confirmed cases, but city health bosses said the worst- case scenario could see fatalities of up to 40%, especially given that the World Health Organisation fears there may be under-recording of cases across Europe. The council is now preparing for the potential effects on its own workforce’s ability to continue running the city if the pandemic ravages the city.
A report to go before council leaders on Friday warns that, based on estimates drawn up by NHS emergency planners, “the potential number of deaths of staff could be significant and the potential number of staff off work for prolonged periods may be high and rise considerably over time.”
In anticipation of the city being overwhelmed with the illness, “frontline” council staff will be given seasonal flu jabs and some will receive training in other jobs to provide cover if many workers are stricken by the H1N1 bug.
