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Pandemic flu tops UK risk report

08/08/2008

Pandemic flu is the greatest threat to the UK, according to the National Risk Register published by the government today.

The register places terrorism as a lesser threat as although a terrorist attack is thought to be more likely than a mass outbreak of flu, a pandemic would affect more people.

It is estimated that pandemic flu could affect up to 750,000 people in the UK but experts are unable to predict its precise timing or nature of its impact.

Attacks on transport, crowded places and electronic attacks are deemed to be the most likely threat, while coastal flooding follows pandemic flu as the event that would affect the most people.

Other threats to the UK include inland flooding, severe weather, animal disease and major industrial and transport accidents.

The prime minister announced the publication of the register in March, promising that it would provide information previously held privately within government so the public can see at first hand the risks faced, and plan accordingly.

"While our obligation to ensure the safety of the British people and to protect the national interest is fixed and unwavering, the nature of the threats and the risks we face has changed beyond recognition and confounds all the old assumptions about national defence and international security," Mr Brown said at the time.

"As the national security strategy makes clear, new threats demand new approaches. A radically updated and much more coordinated response is now required."