A flu pandemic NOT TERROR is our biggest threat, says UK

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A flu pandemic NOT TERROR is our biggest threat, says Brown

Last updated at 02:37am on 21.03.08,

THIS IS LONDON.co.uk from the Evening Standard

The greatest threat facing Britain is neither a terror attack nor

climate change...but a flu pandemic, Gordon Brown said yesterday.

It could kill 750,000 people and spread to this country at record

speed, he told MPs.

The first-ever national security strategy, published yesterday after

several months' delay, claimed the Government had drawn up plans for

dealing with such a huge death toll, as well as other potential

national emergencies such as terror strikes, extreme flooding,

cyber-attacks and climate change.

It proposed creating a modern-day Dad's Army of volunteers to deal

with a flu pandemic, evacuate the elderly in the event of a flood or

help in the aftermath of a terrorist attack.

The new " civil defence network " would be modelled on the ARPs, who

patrolled the streets during World War Two bombing raids.

A separate 1,000-strong civilian force, made up of emergency service

workers and judges, is to be created to assist failing states and help

rebuild countries emerging from conflict.

A " register of risks " – a regularly updated assessment of the dangers

facing Britain – is also to be published.

The Cabinet Office strategy report said that would enable communities

to " prepare better " for potential disasters.

A large section of the report conceded that Britain faces a " serious

and sustained " threat from al-Qaeda and other suicide bombers and

others prepared to use chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in the

name of Islam.

But it concluded that a flu pandemic posed a graver danger. The

Government is to work with international health bodies on early

warning systems and preparing vaccines ahead of an outbreak.

Mass graves, inflatable mortuaries, 24-hour cremations and " express "

funerals could all be used.

Normally, the influenza virus kills about 12,000 in Britain, most of

them elderly. But history shows that the flu virus can mutate into a

new strain that is resistant to existing drugs.

Most famously, the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 killed 228,000 in the

UK and up to 40million worldwide.

Experts say a pandemic is overdue, either from the mutation of the

normal human flu virus, or of bird flu.

The second highest threat identified by the report was coastal

flooding on a scale that last took place on the east coast in 1953,

killing 300.

" Even with today's improved defences, a repeat of coastal or tidal

flooding on that scale could result in the flooding of hundreds of

thousands of properties, and the need to evacuate and shelter hundreds

of thousands of people, " the report said.

It also predicted that energy could be one of the biggest causes of

conflict in coming decades, with demand set to increase 50 per cent by

2030.

Mr Brown told MPs threats to Britain had " changed out of all

recognition " in recent years.

" Our new approach to security also means improved local resilience

against emergencies, building and strengthening capacity to respond

effectively in circumstances from floods to terrorism, " he said.

" Not the old Cold War idea of civil defence but a new form that

combines expert preparedness for emergencies with greater local

engagement of individuals. "

Mr Brown announced that the number of security service staff is to

rise to 4,000 and four regional counter-terrorism units and four

regional intelligence units are to be set up to help the police.

New measures would also be published next month to boost the way

schools, universities and prisons work to disrupt radicalisation in

their midst, he said.

A new National Security Forum featuring up to 30 experts from academia

and other areas will advise another body set up last summer, the

National Security Committee.

Mr Brown also promised greater transparency in the work of the

Intelligence and Security Committee, a Parliamentary body which

oversees the security services.

Tory leader Cameron said Mr Brown's statement " sounded more like

a list than a strategy " .

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