JUST over 8,000 people in Wiltshire could die if pandemic flu strikes, say health bosses' predictions.

This is the worst case scenario if 50 per cent of the county’s population are infected.

Pandemic flu is worse than the seasonal winter flu as it is a virus that is markedly different from other strains and is able to spread widely because few, if any, people have immunity to it.

There have been three pandemics in the last century. The most recent was in 1968 but the worst, often referred to as Spanish Flu, occurred in 1918/19.

No-one knows when the next pandemic flu - which could include bird flu - will strike but the NHS in Wiltshire has compiled a plan on how it would respond.

Based on the population figure for 2007 for Wiltshire (including Swindon) 8,037 people could die from pandemic flu if half of the population catch it.

If 20 per cent of the population are infected up to 3,215 people could die.

People who get pandemic flu will be encouraged to ring a national flu telephone line for advice.

About 40 anti viral medication collection points would be set up in the county and mass vaccination sessions would take place in places such as town and village halls and schools.

NHS Wiltshire says GP practices would have to consider reducing or suspending its routine work to cope with the outbreak.

Community hospitals in Wiltshire would remain largely unchanged for patients but people with pandemic flu would not be encouraged to attend minor injury units.

An outbreak could impact on maternity services as midwives will need to concentrate on first time mothers or those with problems which could result in healthy pregnant women undergoing check ups over the telephone rather than face to face.

The plan also says a mass outbreak would result in an “extremely high demand” on the community teams of health professionals who treat patients at home.

NHS WIltshire will begin stockpiling supplies of protective equipment, including masks, gloves, aprons, alcohol wipes and handwash gel, for its staff in early 2009.