Professor LIAM DONALDSON, the Government's Chief Medical Officer, explains exclusively to Evening Press and Thisisyork readers how he is tackling the anthrax scare

I understand why there is widespread concern in North Yorkshire over the threat to health from the deliberate release of biological agents such as anthrax. Anxiety about terrorism was, of course, high after the dreadful attacks on the United States last month.

But the apparently deliberate infection of people with anthrax in America has understandably increased fear that the same could happen here.

I'm pleased the Evening Press has given me this chance to answer some of the concerns I know people have and explain the steps we have taken to protect the population from any threat.

The first point to stress is that there is no evidence at all of any such specific threat against Britain.

Although there have been alarms in this country which have rightly been treated very seriously, after investigation, no risk was found to the public.

I'm afraid many of these incidents have been deliberate hoaxes.

They are not just cruel and criminal, but also put unnecessary strain on our emergency services.

But all these incidents have shown that the contingency plans of the public health and emergency services are effective and can be put in place rapidly.

That does not mean, of course, we can drop our guard or fail to take every measure necessary to protect the public.

We know from long experience in this country how important vigilance is in tackling terrorism.

But it does mean that there is no reason, if sensible precautions are taken, why people should not go about their everyday lives.

They can do so in the knowledge that all our plans for responding to the possibility of biological and chemical threat have been reviewed, and improved where necessary, in the light of the cases in the United States.

No matter how remote the threat is, my job as the Government's Chief Medical Officer is to ensure we are prepared.

We have put out new guidance to health authorities. Doctors have all been given new advice on detecting anthrax. We have reviewed and increased our supplies of antibiotics and other equipment.

We will keep reviewing our plans constantly in the light of the latest developments and knowledge from the United States.

All of this new work has taken place on the solid foundations of one of the best public health systems in the world. We have world-class experts and an excellent system in place for detecting and controlling infectious diseases.

I understand as well why anthrax causes such worry. Its very name provokes fear. It is a dangerous disease and occurs naturally very rarely.

But I think it is important to add that the experts' view is that it does not pass from person to person.

Only those who come directly into contact with infected material are at risk.

I also assure you that, provided the infection is detected early, which is far more likely now that the public and health professionals are aware of the risk, there is also a very good chance of a full recovery. Anthrax, fortunately, is not an effective biological weapon. Its success is as a psychological weapon. If bio-terrorism is behind these attacks, the success has been in creating fear rather than illness.

We can't and won't be complacent. We will keep improving our systems and preparations. We all need to be vigilant. But there's no reason for us to alter the way we live our lives.

Updated: 10:42 Friday, October 19, 2001