New agency created to fight infectious diseases

A new national agency to combat the increasing threat from infectious diseases and biological, chemical, and radiological hazards was announced last week by the chief medical officer.

Professor Liam Donaldson said that the agency had been formed partly in response to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease and the recent threat of bioterrorism when agencies were ill prepared to act together.

The new National Infection Control and Health Protection Agency, which will cover only England, will supersede the Public Health Service Laboratory Service, the National Radiological Protection Board, the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, and the National Focus for …