What Is Anthrax And Why Are UK Troops Being Offered A Vaccination Against It?

"After Salisbury, we know that the chemical threat is much higher" - Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former commander of the UK’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear regiment.

Following the attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, concern has grown around the use of chemical and biological weapons.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has now announced that British troops will be offered anthrax vaccinations, which will, he says "provide vital protections against a deadly danger".

We spoke to chemical weapons expert and former Army officer Hamish de Bretton-Gordon about the dangers of anthrax.

What is anthrax?

Anthrax is a biological, naturally occurring pathogen.

It has been used as a biological weapon in the past, and it can kill very quickly if people are not protected.

Why are troops being vaccinated now?

Anthrax vaccinations are nothing new - a lot of troops were vaccinated during the Cold and the Gulf wars.

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon says this reintroduction of the vaccination suggests a recognition of impending threats.

"If British troops had to do an evacuation of civilians from South Korea then I think the MoD quite rightly is offering anthrax vaccinations because we know that the North Koreans have vast stocks of anthrax."

In particular, it is an acknowledgement of the danger posed by North Korea and the vast stocks of anthrax which they have available.

What was used in the Salisbury attack?

A nerve agent known as Novichok was used, as identified by Porton Down - one of the leading toxicology labs.

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon says the Russians are the only nation to have produced Novichok, and that it is "critical" that further investigations take place.

He said:

"It looks very much as though the Russians are guilty of using a weapon of mass destruction in the United Kingdom."