WRITTEN QUESTION P-1357/03

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(4 April 2003)

Subject: Preventive measures to combat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

The Commission's website contains only one reference to SARS. On 19 March, the EU's communicable disease network claimed that SARS is transmitted through direct contact only, though that is not certain, and possibly also via airborne contact. The only certainty is that we do not know enough about this. Antibiotics are not effective, and no antiviral drugs are available (yet). There have been 60 deaths, mostly in Asia; but there have also been four in Canada. 1750 people are likely to have become infected. Yesterday (31 March 2003) 92 cases alone were reported in Hong Kong.

It is high time the EU acted:

- All airlines flying to EU airports from China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore or Canada must have their passengers examined by medical personnel before travelling to Europe and, where there is doubt, they should be turned away. KLM has already made a start on this.

- Travelling from Europe to the five countries concerned should be strongly discouraged.

- The Greek Presidency should very shortly convene a special meeting of EU health ministers.

How does the Commission view these proposals?

Can the Commission say whether it intends to act to bring about the development of a reliable test for the SARS virus as quickly as possible, and, if so, what action does it intend to take?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 May 2003)

The Commission is well aware of the impact and the potential risks of the current epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Disease (SARS). The Commission is collaborating with the Members States, through the designated Authorities of the Ministries of Health, and with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to implement all the possible actions to control the spreading of SARS.

During the European Parliament plenary session on 7 April 2003, the Commission gave a statement on SARS, reporting the detailed information on the monitoring of the SARS crisis at European Union level, including surveillance strategies, rapid alert system and exchange of information with Member States, EFTA countries and Candidate countries.

All new cases of SARS are reported daily by the Member States to the Commission, through the Community Network for the Surveillance of Communicable Diseases, under the Decision No 2119/98/EC(1), in order to have a complete and clear picture of the evolving situation in Europe. An active surveillance strategy has been launched at European level to detect all the potentially infected persons travelling from the affected areas and to ensure comprehensive detection including hospital settings and the wider community. At the moment, in Europe, only one case of local transmission of SARS has been reported by the United Kingdom but without any secondary cases. This fact is the best evidence that this strategic approach is working well and that it is giving the expected results.

The Commission agrees with WHO that travellers from affected regions need to be screened at departure, informed during the flight and eventually referred to the national health authorities on arrival. The Community Network Committee (NC) on communicable diseases met in Luxembourg on 9-10 April 2003 and agreed on immediate actions for the control of the epidemic. The actions were based on the current knowledge and are liable to change as the situation evolves.

As far as diagnosis of SARS is concerned, we still do not have a valid laboratory test. Researchers in several countries are working towards developing fast and accurate laboratory tests for the SARS. However, until those tests have been adequately field tested and shown to be reliable, SARS diagnosis remains dependent on the clinical findings.

A specific SARS page reporting background, specific data and guidelines is maintained and regularly updated on the European Commission Public Health website at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/com/sars/sars_en.htm.

Europe has access to a rich resource of competence in most of the relevant research areas. The Commission is now investigating how to best provide support to research on SARS and other unforeseen health threats posed by infectious diseases in the medium- to long-term perspective. The Commission has been reporting to the Council and its working groups about actions taken on a regular basis, and will continue to do so as requested. The decision to organise a special meeting of Health Ministers may be taken by the Presidency taking into account the expected added value of the meeting held at this level.

(1) Decision No 2119/1998/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, OJ L 268, 3.10.1998.