DOCTORS across York and North Yorkshire have been sent advice on how to identify and treat any potential victims of anthrax.
And officials from North Yorkshire Health Authority are to take part in refresher training on contingency plans for dealing with such an emergency.
The moves come as the Government reviews Britain's ability to deal with biological attacks, with Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson saying there was no evidence of an immediate threat or risk, but confirming that antibiotics had been ordered in the last fortnight in an effort to counter the disease.
Panic has gripped America after the number of people exposed to anthrax rose to 12.
Dr Will Patterson, North Yorkshire consultant in public health medicine, said the health authority had sent on copies of a letter from the Department of Health to GPs' surgeries across the county.
"It is basically a question-and-answer thing about the signs and symptoms," he said.
"We are not expecting any problems with anthrax in North Yorkshire."
He said that general contingency systems were already in place for dealing with such problems, but refresher training would take place within the next week for people involved in such fields.
Updated: 16:46 Monday, October 15, 2001
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