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NO RISK TO PUBLIC, SAYS MEDICAL EXPERT

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09:00 - 21 January 2003

09:00 - 21 January 2003

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' name=cont4> A medical expert who last year warned that Britain had

inadequate supplies of antidotes to cope with a biological weapons attack

criticised the lack of care in dealing with the anti-anthrax vaccine.

But Exeter-based GP Dr Midgley, who served with the British Army

during Operation Desert Storm 12 years ago, said the find would pose no risk

to human health or the environment.

" The antidote to anthrax is a dead vaccine. It is brewed over months and is

unlikely to pose any threat to health or the environment, " he said. " It's sad

though that it ended up as flotsam and jetsam. "

He added: " This vaccine is available to the Army, everyone working in

tanneries and to people travelling to certain islands in Scotland. "

Dr Midgley said all Army personnel deployed in Iraq must be vaccinated

against anthrax as well as other diseases such as smallpox.

He explained that those vaccinated against the disease need a booster five

years after the first inoculation.

" Anthrax never worked well as a weapon because it takes large quantities of

spores to spread over a country. However, it is used to create panic among

people. "

Asked which chemical or biological weapon would jeopardise the security and

welfare of a country, he added: " Probably foot and mouth.

" It has the potential to cause great damage to a country's economy. Smallpox

is equally dangerous and last year I warned that Britain might face a

shortage of vaccine stockpiles. "

Dr Midgley, who is also the honorary secretary for the British Medical

Association in Devon, said Britain had to build up extra supplies against

anthrax and smallpox which could be distributed quickly to the population.

Last year the GP argued that concerns over a biological terrorist attack had

been on the minds of the medical profession since the events of September 11.

" There are numerous doctors around the country who have introduced motions

asking for urgent measures to be taken before anything disastrous happens. We

should be prepared in case of both natural and unnatural outbreaks of

diseases, " he said at the time.

" Terrorists may target animals and crops as well as human beings. There is no

evidence that the foot and mouth outbreak in the country was caused by

terrorist activity, but it is always wise to be on the alert and identify any

weapons which can produce damage. "

A Department of Health spokesperson said the NHS had established plans for

responding to major incidents concerning public health and ensuring that

those plans are fully up to date and flexible.

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CAMPAIGNER SHOCKED AT LACK OF CARE

09:00 - 21 January 2003

Liz Sigmund, a Cornwall-based campaigner against chemical warfare, spoke of

her shock at the discovery of the anthrax vaccine on a Westcountry beach.

The former member of the independent group Working Party on Chemical and

Biological Weapons, said the find was " horrifying " and needed a thorough

investigation.

She said: " Anthrax is a very nasty disease which causes severe lesions on the

lungs and can kill very quickly.

" Two years ago anthrax was spread around America and a high-profile

politician died after being exposed to it.

" It started to be developed during the Second World War and then during the

Cold War when Western Europe and America feared the Russians were producing

it. "

Mrs Sigmund said the discovery of the antidote washed ashore in Dorset could

" raise many questions which should be answered by those responsible in the

Government. "

" I shall talk to my colleagues at the University of Leeds and Sussex about

the implications of this discovery. I cannot believe that this has happened.

It will certainly cause outrage with the general public. I shall also speak

with my MP and ask him to take this matter to the House of Commons. It is a

very serious incident. "

The campaigner is mostly known for her stalwart attitude against chemical

poisoning from organophosphates which she believes can cause severe brain

damage.

She argued that patients suffering from chemical poisoning can experience

severe cognitive and behavioural problems and the symptoms could be largely

due to exposure to chemicals.