WRITTEN QUESTION P-1937/01 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Progress of Commission investigations into the outbreaks of legionella in Alcoy (Valencia region, Spain).
Date: 2001-06-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, disease prevention, drinking water, epidemic, infectious disease, national implementing measure, product quality

C 40 E/144

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

(2002/C 40 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1937/01

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) to the Commission

(26 June 2001)

Subject: Progress of Commission investigations into the outbreaks of legionella in Alcoy (Valencia region,

Spain)

On 1 February 2001 the Commission informed the author of this question that, at her request, it had
contacted the Spanish authorities to obtain information on the continuing outbreaks of legionella in Alcoy.
In answer P-3913/00 (1) the Commission recognises that Directive 80/778/EEC (2) on the quality of water
intended for human consumption might have been breached.

Since then, the inhabitants of Alcoy have been hit by new outbreaks of legionella. There have been four
such outbreaks since September 1999 and over 160 people have been affected. The latest was recorded on
26 May, although it has not been possible to identify the source.

According to experts such as Carlos `lvarez-Dardet, editor of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community
Health and professor of public health at the University of Alicante, there is something wrong when a town
is hit by four outbreaks of legionella in 20 months. The experts are particularly struck by the fact that
most of those affected live in or frequent specific areas, and attribute the repeated outbreaks to negligence
and mismanagement on the part of the relevant authorities.

Given this situation, opposition parties have called for the dismissal of the regional health minister and
complained in the Spanish Parliament about the Valencian regional authorities(cid:146) failure to act swiftly to put
a stop to the outbreaks.

What progress has been made in the Commission(cid:146)s investigations into the outbreaks of legionella in Alcoy?

What urgent measures does it intend to take under Community law to impress upon the relevant
authorities the need for effective action to combat the epidemic?

(1) OJ C 235 E, 21.8.2001, p. 34.
(2) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980, p. 11.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 2001)

Following Written Question P-3913/00 by the Honourable Member, the Commission opened an own-
initiative case, registered as number 2001/2048, to check that the Spanish authorities were applying
Community law properly in this particular instance.

As part of its examination of the case, the Commission sent the Spanish authorities a letter asking them to
comment on the situation reported by the Honourable Member and so that it might determine whether
Council Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human
consumption (1) was applicable in this instance.

A reply has just been received from the Spanish authorities, and the Commission is now examining it.
Accordingly, it would be premature to draw any conclusion regarding the possibly incorrect application of
Community law in this particular case. The Commission will
inform the Honourable Member of the
outcome of its examination.

(1) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980.