European disease centre set for go-ahead

MEPs are to push for a European centre for disease prevention and control in the wake of global health threats such as SARS and bird flu.

The centre, due to be operational by 2005, would benefit from an initial €47.8 million budget to coordinate EU efforts in monitoring and controlling the spread of highly contagious diseases.

Calls for controls to be stepped up are growing louder following the unprecedented spread of the fatal avian flu, SARS and the perceived threat of bioterrorism.

“There is an urgent need to establish a centre which can support member states to respond to health threats,” said UK Conservative John Bowis, the MEP in charge of steering the issue through parliament.

“Our aim is to replace the ad hoc situation we have now with a formal structure to improve cooperation between member states on this vital health issue,” he added.

Based in Sweden, the centre will aim to boost the efforts of national governments and the European Commission in disease control through technical assistance and expertise.

Its tasks will also include an early warning and response system to emergencies and the provision of epidemiological training.

The centre would deal with common diseases such as influenza, measles, mumps, poliomyelitis, HIV infection, syphilis, Hepatitis A, B and C.

Food and water borne diseases would come under its remit, as would TB, rabies, cholera, malaria, plague and viral haemorrhagic fevers (such as Ebola).

It would be expected to make recommendations to the commission and national governments based on its information resources.

Since 1999 the European Commission has already managed a Communicable Diseases Network, funded through the Health Action Programme.

This network comprises designated national bodies responsible for communicable diseases within Member States.

• Previous article
• Next article