Panic could burden NHS, warns minister

Published on Sunday 26 July 2009 22:15

PUBLIC panic over swine flu could put unnecessary pressure on the NHS, Health Secretary Andy Burnham has warned.

He reassured people that the NHS had been planning for a pandemic for a long time.

He said: "It is very important for everybody to keep a sense of perspective.

"It has been a mild virus in the vast majority of cases, with relatively mild symptoms from which people recover fully fairly quickly.

"If people are made unnecessarily anxious, it makes the lives of NHS professionals, who are already under enormous pressure, far more difficult as people become unduly worried."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said 160 countries were now affected by swine flu, and around 800 people have died worldwide.

At least 30 people have died in the UK after contracting the virus.

The WHO said two billion people in total could suffer from swine flu.

Meanwhile, airports operator BAA has confirmed health officials were now based permanently at the UK's airports and were using "extra vigilance" as they looked for any passengers with possible signs of swine flu infection.