Decision on bio-terrorist unit delayed for two years

THE Government has yet to decide on the location of the country’s first specialist unit for treating victims of a bio-terrorist attack - almost two years after an expert group said such a facility should be established “without delay”.

The Department of Health confirmed yesterday that no final decision on the matter had been taken, although the location of the centre is expected to be announced within weeks.

An expert committee, which was established after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 to formulate a co-ordinated, national response to such a terrorist threat, identified the need to designate hospitals to treat the victims of chemical and biological attacks as a top priority.