14 DAY TRIAL // British officials are considering mass burials if the bird flu pandemic reaches their country. This assertion is based on a confidential report published by a British newspaper, which stated that 320,000 could die if the virus mutates into one that will be easily transmitted among humans.
These numerous deaths will lead to delays of up to 17 weeks in order that the victims be buried or cremated. The document also warns that the images of a massive burial may be associated with the mass pits from the Great Plague in 1665.
"It might involve a large number of coffins buried in the same place at the same time, in such a way that allowed for individual graves to be marked," said the report. Town halls could deal with basically 48,000 deaths in England and Wales during a 15-week pandemic.
The newspaper which published the document claimed this problem was discussed by ministers last week, accepting this delay of up to 17 weeks in lack of no other options. A spokesman for the organization which issued the report said the government is taking very seriously this possible threat.
There are some concerns that public services will not be able to deal with the pandemic, intensive care units collapsing because of the high demands. A bird flu pandemic is the top priority for the British government, which stockpiled 14.6 million doses of anti-viral drugs for the treatment of the people infected.
The latest case of human death caused by bird flu was in Indonesia, where a one-year-old girl died in Jakarta last week.