WRITTEN QUESTION E-3260/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Presence of tropical insects in Europe

The Italian press has published reports of deaths caused by stings from insects previously unknown in Italy and thought to be of tropical origin. In the case of a young woman from Cologno Monzese there was talk of blood poisoning, caused by her being bitten by a tropical spider carrying a rare disease known as Moschcowitz's disease. The resulting alarm among the population is linked to the fear that the presence of tropical insects is caused by goods or persons entering the country illegally, i.e. without being checked by the health authorities. On the other hand, the University of Parma is talking about climate change turning Italy into a subtropical country. The World Health Organisation has long since raised the alarm about this, calling on the competent authorities to take precautionary measures.

Can the Commission say whether:

1. it is aware of this situation;

2. it knows about the precautionary measures taken by the Italian health authorities;

3. if the claims made by academic experts are accurate, what steps it intends to take to safeguard public health;

4. there are any appropriate measures (vaccinations, anti-viral treatments, etc.) to ensure immunity against stings and bites from insects which are still unknown in Italy and Europe in general?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2000)

The Commission is sensitive to the public concern that the increased circulation of goods and people as well as environmental changes, in particular global climate change, could lead to a change in geographical distribution of insects or other vectors of disease.

The specific case to which the Honourable Member refers has so far not been reported by the Italian health authorities in the early warning system of the Community network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases(1). This system foresees that Member States shall communicate to the Community network, among other cases, information on unusual epidemic phenomena, new communicable diseases of unknown origin, as well as the appearance or resurgence of a communicable diseases or an infectious agent which may require timely, coordinated Community action to contain it.

Many initiatives undertaken by the Community aim at protecting public health from the potential increased risk due to climate change, such as the above mentioned Community network which brings into permanent communication the institutes and public health authorities dealing with infectious diseases; the proposed programme of Community action in the field of public health (2001-2006)(2) which explicitly foresees as specific objectives and actions responding rapidly to health threats, enhancing the capacity to tackle communicable diseases and addressing health determinants related to the environment; and Community environmental policy

which places the Community at the forefront of the international community's efforts to combat climate change (the latest monitoring data indicate that the Community is on track to fulfil its obligation under the United Nations (UN) Framework convention on climate change to ensure that its greenhouse gas emissions this year are no greater than in 1990) and finally Community research policy under which (fifth framework programme) the relationship between climate change and health is investigated both under the Quality of life and management of living resources and the Energy, environment and sustainable development thematic programmes.

The delivery of healthcare is a responsibility of the Member States and a matter where subsidiarity applies.

(1) Decision No 2119/98/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 (OJ L 268, 3.10.1998).

(2) COM(2000) 285 final.