Disaster planning at all-time high, says experts

Emergency planning to fight the threat from world terrorism and global epidemics has reached an all-time high, disaster experts claimed at a conference in Ireland tonight.

Amid heightened risk of biological attack or sweeping epidemics, specialists told of an intense new effort to control any outbreaks.

Bruce Farr, the Toronto emergency medical services chief who battled against the deadly SARS virus, stressed how countries cannot afford to be exposed.

He said: “We don’t know what is lurking around the corner and we need to be better prepared."

Mr Farr arrived in Belfast for a major conference held by the Emergency Planning Society.

Delegates from New York, Canada and Australia will be discussing ways to cope with a natural disaster or terrorism during the three-day event at the city’s Waterfront Hall.

The 56-year-old former paramedic was in charge when the SARS crisis hit Toronto’s health care system last year.