A planning exercise to establish how the Isle of Man would deal with a flu pandemic is taking place later this week.

Key officials from government departments, the emergency services and other authorities on the Island will be briefed by the north west of England's Emergency Planning officer.

The exercise will challenge them to deal with a range of possible scenarios - and focus on issues specific to the Island, such as how to ensure the supply of food, fuel and medicine.

The World Health Organisation says a flu pandemic is likely to happen in the next two to three years and the Manx government says the Island is well ahead of most countries in its planning and preparation.