WRITTEN QUESTION E-1651/03

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 May 2003)

Subject: WHO warning about H7N7 A virus influenza in the Netherlands

1. Did the Commission catch the article by Alexander S. Kekulé, which appeared in the 30 April 2003 edition of Der Tagesspiegel, entitled Of Chickens and Men. Why fowl viruses like the one in the Netherlands are so dangerous?

2. That article stated that the H7N7 A virus avian influenza is very dangerous to humans. The claim is backed up by the fact that a Dutch veterinarian died from the virus. The article also stated that the human immune system is powerless to combat the mutant H7N7 A virus influenza. Does the Commission share that view?

3. Is the Commission aware that, on 24 April 2003, the WHO published a Disease Outbreak Report on the situation in the Netherlands? That report noted that, in Hong Kong in 1997, there was an outbreak of a similar kind of virus, H5N1, which infected 18 people, six of whom died. In February 2003, there was another outbreak in Hong Kong which resulted in another death. The WHO recommends that proper checks should be carried out in the Netherlands on humans and animals (especially chickens, turkeys and pigs). Does the European Commission take the view that countries where fowl pest has broken out have taken adequate measures to prevent a situation like the one in Hong Kong from occurring?

4. What further measures will the European Commission take in order to keep the situation in Europe under control? Does the European Commission have adequate instruments with which to take effective action in the event of a catastrophe?

Joint answerto Written questions E-1651/03 and E-1657/03given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2003)

Avian influenza (AI) is a contagious viral infection affecting birds. The virus strain causing the current outbreaks in some Member States is of type H7N7. The transmission of this virus of avian origin from birds to humans has been demonstrated on few occasions leading to transient curable eye manifestations and respiratory symptoms. Human-to-human transmission is limited and the strain has not established itself in the human population. The death of a veterinarian in the Netherlands should be seen as an isolated case following direct exposure to live infected poultry. The disease control and slaughter hygiene measures applied in the Union and the guarantees required for the import of poultry meat are aimed at ensuring that no infected poultry meat is traded. Heat treatment applied to poultry meat prior to consumption inactivates any virus present. The risk of contracting disease via consumption of meat, therefore, is insignificant.

The Commission is aware of the events in Hong Kong and has been closely following the situation there and in southern China, making use of information provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other sources. The Commission continues to co-operate with WHO and other institutions in developing and putting in place preparedness plans for important communicable diseases, such as human influenza and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Robust communication lines have been put in place linking the competent public health authorities to co-ordinate recommended measures through the Early Warning System of the Community network for communicable diseases, and procedures for providing the public with scientifically based first hand information. The Commission also supports a number of research projects on the development of influenza vaccines and the improvement of laboratory diagnosis.

In response to the avian influenza outbreaks that occurred in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, the Commission, in close co-operation with the Member States experts of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, has immediately taken a number of strict disease control measures. These measures exceed the provisions laid down in Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of avian influenza(1). They include rigorous provisions aiming at interrupting the chain of infection as quickly as possible and at the prevention of any transmission of virus to humans. These actions are continuously reviewed in the light of the evolution of the epidemiological situation taking into account the most updated scientific knowledge and have been shown to be effective to limit the spread of the disease. The poultry health situation in relation with the current AI outbreaks in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands has largely improved in the last weeks. Further information is available on http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/ah_pcad/ah_pcad_77_en.pdf and on http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/ah_pcad/ah_pcad_76_en.pdf.

Influenza viruses belong to the family of Orthomyxoviridae, whilst the agent causing the SARS has been shown to be a Corona-virus. The two families are clearly distinct and the viruses cause different diseases. Initial symptoms may, however, be similar. Infection of one human host by the SARS agent and by the influenza virus may occur at the same time, particularly during the influenza season. Effective sentinel surveillance for influenza is thus equally as important as putting in place validated laboratory tests to confirm SARS. The Commission is funding a surveillance project, the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (www.EISS.org) providing human influenza surveillance data in close collaboration with WHO.

In the more general framework of protection against communicable diseases, the Commission intends to propose to the Parliament and the Council a regulation setting up a Centre for communicable diseases that would improve the capacity of the European Union to react to outbreaks of diseases affecting public health. The Centre would contribute additional support to that provided under existing Community instruments (e.g. civil protection) to ensure that effective action can be taken at Community level in respect of any catastrophy in an Member State or third country.

(1) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992.