Geneva - The World Health Organisation has urged all countries to strengthen defences against biological weapons.
"The key is quick detection of any disease and that needs a good public health system," Dr David Heymann, the agency's executive director for communicable diseases, said yesterday.
The UN body was preparing a report on responses to the threat posed by biological and chemical weapons for the end of the year, but it has rushed out a preliminary version because of public alarm since the September 11th suicide attacks on New York and Washington.
However, the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, played down the warnings. "There is no evidence of a specific threat to the United Kingdom, as the prime minister has said on several occasions," a spokesman said.