The Island’s emergency and health services are taking part in a country-wide exercise, lead by the Department of Health, to test emergency arrangements in relation to dealing with pandemic flu is taking place on 19 and 20 February. This exercise – which will be one of the largest of its kind held in this country – is designed to practice and validate plans, response policies and the decision-making process during an influenza pandemic.

The command post exercise will involve a range of central government departments as well as local areas working with their own emergency operations and arrangements.

This is a training and development exercise, designed and delivered by the Health Protection Agency.

Dr Paul Bingham, Director of Public Health for the Island, said “This is an excellent opportunity to test our plans which we have been developing for some time.”