Major Epidemic Coming

Local health experts say it's not a matter of "if" but rather "when".

The Chief Medical Officer for the Interior Health Authority says there will be a major influenza-like epidemic in the Central Okanagan but he says we’re ready for it to strike.

A mock exercise on a major influenza outbreak in Kelowna was held at the main fire hall Friday in preparation for the epidemic.

Peter Riben says such an exercise is absolutely necessary because it's only a matter of time before there's going to be an epidemic.

"The predictions from the experts certainly indicate that we will be having one sometime in the next five to 10 years," says Riben.

"Generally we have three large pandemics each century and we haven't had one for the past 30 years so we're getting into that area where something is going to happen."

Riben says the epidemic will likely be similar to SARS combined with another disease.