British Government has ordered 200,000 Body bags

26 February 2006
DON'T PANIC.. BUT GOVERNMENT HAS ORDERED
EXCLUSIVE 200,000 BODY BAGS Fears for stocks of rice, pasta and water - Dozens of temporary morgues are planned
By Vincent Moss
MINISTERS have ordered 200,000 body bags under secret plans to cope with a lethal bird flu outbreak in Britain.

The huge stockpile reflects Government fears of the potential death toll if the virus mutates to a form which can be passed to humans.

The emergency plans - leaked to the Sunday Mirror - also include 15 temporary mortuaries in London with dozens more across the country.

Proposals are also being drawn up to ration food and fuel amid fears that shoppers will strip the shelves in a wave of panic buying. Ministers stress they are only taking precautions and there is no need for public alarm.

At present, people can only catch the virus from very close contact with sick birds. But the Government is drawing up urgent plans amid growing fears that the virus will mutate and be transmittable between humans.

If that happens, experts predict anything up to 50 million deaths from a worldwide pandemic.


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In Britain, estimates of the death toll in the first six weeks of the outbreak range from 20,000 to 700,000. Deaths in London alone could hit 50,000 within weeks.


A senior ministerial source told the Sunday Mirror: "People should be reassured we are making the best possible preparations.


"We have ordered 200,000 body bags, and plans are under way to limit some foodstuffs and fuel if necessary.


"But contingency planning is vital to limit the impact of a pandemic and prevent panic."


Several Government departments including the Department Of Health and the Department For The Environment, Food And Rural Affairs are co-ordinating the emergency blueprint.


Ministers believe food rationing might be needed to prevent shoppers stockpiling goods such as pasta, rice and bottled water.


They insist they have learnt vital lessons from the "three Fs" which threatened to cripple Britain in the past - the fuel crisis, foot and mouth disease and mass floods.


A senior Government minister said: "I would hope people will sleep safer in the knowledge that we are preparing for the worst.


"Every possible step is being taken to minimise the impact of an outbreak." news@sundaymirror.co.uk