EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/756

(2004/C 78 E/0804)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2797/03

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

(19 September 2003)

Subject: Combating legionnaires' disease

According to the guidelines which have to be followed, if a single case of legionnaires' disease is reported — defined as ‘cases who in the ten days before onset of illness stayed at or visited an accommodation site that has not been associated with any other cases of legionnaires’ disease, or cases who stayed at an accommodation site linked to other cases of legionnaires' disease but more than two years previously' — travel organisations need not inform travellers. However, in this situation there are grounds for suspecting the presence of legionella in the building concerned, so a report of a single case is serious enough to warrant an insistence that measures be taken in relation to the accommodation site.

After a report of a cluster of cases of the disease, the authorities have two weeks to submit a provisional report to the EWGLI. If no provisional report has been received within this time limit, the accommodation site is listed on the EWGLI website.

1. Where a single case of legionnaires' disease is reported, does the Commission consider that, in view of the life-threatening nature of the disease, it is desirable for a travel organisation to provide the fullest possible information to travellers, and if so, is the provision of information for which the guidelines currently provide too limited?

2. Where a cluster of cases of legionnaires' disease is reported, does the Commission consider that, in view of the life-threatening nature of the disease, it is desirable for a travel organisation to provide the fullest possible information to travellers, and if so, is the two-week period too long?

3. Will the Commission submit a proposal for rules on the provision of information on cases of legionnaires' disease in order to avert deaths?

4. If the Commission intends to submit such a proposal, will it incorporate these rules in a legislative proposal?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2003)

Guidelines on reporting cases, information to travellers and action by national authorities concerning legionnaires' disease outbreaks have been proposed by the technical experts of the European Working Group for Legionella Infections Network (Ewglinet). Such guidelines are not mandatory for the authorities and organisations concerned but they can contribute to establishing a basis for decisions and action aimed at providing a high-level of health protection.

Co-operation through the Ewglinet has helped fight legionnaires' disease and represents a significant advance. There is, however, no consensus among the authorities concerned as to how the guidelines proposed by the experts can serve as the basis for regulatory provisions that have subsequently to be enforced.

The Commission has provided support to Ewglinet and works to achieve a common approach among the authorities represented in its Communicable Disease Network Committee, established under Decision No 2119/98/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community (1), to enable the formulation of guidelines on the basis of scientific and technical advice that will take into account the proposals cited in the question.

(1) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998.