Quote...now health chiefs have unveiled a bizarre new tactic to combat the virus – a role-play game using a set of dice.

The Flu Pandemic Game, which can be downloaded from the Department of Health's website, is for three to 60 players, takes around 90 minutes and has chance cards much like Monopoly....

The rules also recommend that the person running the game, known as the facilitator, has 'substantial experience of delivering training on sensitive topics', such as child protection.

Unlike in real life, however, the game does not actually allow players to die because, as officials claim, it would make it too 'unwieldy'.