WRITTEN QUESTION E-2312/02

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

(25 July 2002)

Subject: Risk of legionella infection for tourists

It is estimated that this year again some 800 to 1 400 tourists from the European Union will become infected with the legionella bacterium, which causes Legionnaires' disease. Since summer 2000 I have been questioning the Commission on this subject. In February 2001, together with Mrs Corbey, Mrs Plooij and Mr De Roo I wrote to the President of the Commission, Mr Prodi, on the inadequate functioning of the epidemiological monitoring network and the lack of any satisfactory action from the Commission. In the answer from the Commission we received in April 2001, it agreed to review the network in the coming months and to take the

necessary measures to inform EU citizens as effectively as possible. It now seems, even though the number of legionella infections has doubled in recent years, that the network still does not work adequately because not all the Member States are taking part in it or are not providing the necessary information.

Can the Commission say what measures have been or are being taken in the context of the new public health programme in order as far as possible to eliminate risks for European tourists?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 2002)

The Commission recognises the necessity to keep under review the situation of legionella infection among European citizens, and among tourists in particular. For this reason it continues to fund the European Working Group for Legionella Infections (EWGLI) project as a tool to fight legionnaire's disease in Europe.

Since the Commission's answer in April 2001 referred to in your written question the Commission has been working closely with EWGLI and the Committee set up under Decision No 2119/98/EC on a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community. All Member States now participate through collaborators designated by Member States authorities. The scheme's operational procedures have been modified to ensure a rapid and appropriate public health response in the country of infection when notified of a cluster. With advice of the Network Committee guidelines have been developed by EWGLI for the risk assessment, environmental investigation and control and prevention of legionella in water systems and methods for investigation and control of an outbreak of legionnaires' disease in an hotel or other accommodation sites. The guidelines also describe the definitions and procedures for reporting and responding to travel related legionnaires' disease. The Commission is now studying how these principles might be taken forward.

The new public health programme focuses on surveillance, early warning and timely response. It identifies that response to health threats is a key issue, and provides the basis for reinforcing and developing the current network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases. The aim is to improve the early warning and response system and to mobilise and co-ordinate European resources for common outbreak investigations that will allow for more immediate control actions for legionella and other communicable diseases.