WRITTEN QUESTION E-3197/02

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 November 2002)

Subject: Legionella contamination

Since the summer of 2000 I have been asking the Commission about the danger posed by the legionella bacterium, which causes legionnaires' disease. In its reply to my written question E-2312/02(1), the Commission states that it is currently studying how measures to combat legionella bacteria can be implemented.

When does the Commission expect to be able to announce the specific results of its study of ways of controlling legionella bacteria? I have now been trying to extract a genuine answer from the Commission for 18 months.

(1) OJ C 28 E, 6.2.2003, p. 219.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 December 2002)

The Commission does not agree that there have been no concrete results following the series of questions on legionella from the Honourable Member. The surveillance of the disease (especially related to travel related illness the main preoccupation of the Honourable Member) has been fully integrated into the framework of the European network created on the basis of the Parliament and Council Decision No 2119/98/EC of 24 September 1998 setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community(1). All Member States now officially submit their validated data for analysis by the Centre of the legionella network, located in the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) of the United Kingdom, through specially designated government contact points whose participation is endorsed by the Member States in the Committee set up under Decision No 2119/98/EC.

The network on legionella (EWGLI: European Working Group for Legionella Infections) has developed guidelines, also supported by the Network Committee, addressing the control and prevention of travel associated legionnaires' disease and defining a clear reporting scheme for all participants. The guidelines address risk assessment (particularly in hotels), control of legionella in water systems and the environment, and methods for investigation and control of outbreaks, standardising rapid control and prevention measures in all participant countries. European laboratories share clinical and environmental specimens and take part in External Quality Assurance schemes in order to improve the investigation of actual or potential sources of outbreaks across European countries. The EWGLI web site is a European resource for all aspects of information on legionella infections for health professionals, tour operators and members of the public.

The Commission is of the opinion that these measures are very practical steps to improve surveillance, and reaction to any outbreak, but they should not lead to complacency. The Commission is also taking concrete steps to improve the Community's capability to react to calls for assistance in response to outbreaks and other health threats in terms of rapid and co-ordinated intervention. The Commission believes that this could be achieved by the setting up of a European Centre for disease control, and intends to bring forward proposals to the Parliament and Council in 2003. Such a Centre should add to the Commission and Member States' achievements in combating diseases, such as legionella, boosting technical and scientific support, and enhancing preparedness.

(1) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998.