Testing Our Readiness for the Real Threat - a Global Flu Pandemic; Experts Fear an Outbreak Could Lead to Social Unrest and Collapse

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Byline: Andrew Pugh

EMERGENCY services yesterday prepared for some of the worst excesses of a future flu pandemic, which experts predict could lead to thousands of deaths, civil unrest and economic collapse.

All four Welsh police forces were represented at the mock exercise in South Wales, codenamed "Exercise Taliesin", together with other 999 crews and representatives from the military, NHS, local authorities and the National Assembly.

They were joined by organisations as diverse as the Red Cross and the Environment Agency although, in the event of an outbreak, the response would be overseen by leading police officers.

"A flu pandemic is a world threat and we have to put …