Vassiliou: EU must not overreact to swine flu outbreak

EU health commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has warned against taking 'unjustified' measures to tackle the global swine flu outbreak.

We must "avoid a health crisis becoming an economic crisis", Vassiliou told MEPs at their Strasbourg plenary session on Monday evening during a statement on the swine flu threat.

She said that the commission would take "only those measures that are justified by the evidence" to fight a potential pandemic.

The commissioner added that EU officials were currently examining a 'road map' for urgent implementation of the recommendations outlined by EU member on 30 April.

These will include development of vaccines, a vaccine strategy and guidance on best use of stockpiles of vaccines and anti-virals, said Vassiliou

In addition there will be advice on protective and preventative measures as well as public communication and information for member states.

Addressing parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering directly she said, "The situation is serious but we are better prepared than ever to meet this threat."

Vassiliou added, "Having seen the determination of the health ministers of Europe last week… I am confident of our ability to respond in the coming weeks."

The commissioner's comments follow comments from Mexican health minister Jose Angel Cordova that the new flu virus had a mortality rate comparable to that of seasonal flu and media reports that the danger to human health may be overrated.

Meanwhile, EU finance ministers meeting in Brussels said they saw no evidence swine flu was damaging Europe's economy.

She insisted that moves to produce a vaccine against the H1N1 strain currently circling the globe were already in hand.

"We hope that on the 11th of this month we shall have the seed stocks to give to the industry in order to begin production of the new vaccine… we estimate it will take between eight and 12 weeks," she said.

Describing the nature of the plans for a pan-European response, she added, "We know there are many differences in stocks from one state to another and we are concerned about that.

"In view of the conclusions reached by ministers… we decided that the commission would work closely with member states, and in case, of course a member state needs assistance then in the spirit of solidarity we shall call for assistance and try to coordinate the efforts of the member states. "

According to the latest reports from the World Health Organisation 11 European countries are currently reporting cases of non-fatal swine flu including Austria (1), Denmark (1), France (4), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Italy (2), The Netherlands (1), Portugal (1), Spain (54), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (18).

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