WRITTEN QUESTION P-1604/03 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Atypical pneumonia virus (SARS).
Date: 2003-05-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Asia, European Union, World Health Organisation, air transport, border control, disease prevention, exchange of information, health legislation, infectious disease

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/159

close trade relations with all these countries and receives a constant influx of Asian immigrants, many of
them illegal immigrants, has not yet devised an appropriate prevention and control plan for the continent
as a whole, with standard measures to be carried out by all the Member States, not least in order to devise
the means of tackling a possible epidemic.

In view of all this, does the Commission not intend to take any urgent action?

(2003/C 280 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1604/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(6 May 2003)

Subject: Atypical pneumonia virus (SARS)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been causing worldwide concern since February.

At the beginning of April there were 2 223 suspected cases in the world, 78 of which resulted in death.
In Europe there were 5 suspected cases in Germany, 8 in Italy, 3 in the United Kingdom, 2 in Ireland, 1 in
France and 1 in Belgium (none of them fatal).

According to the most recent information supplied by the Chinese Ministry of Health, SARS has killed
another 9 people in the country and there are 203 new suspected cases (95 of them in Beijing). The total
number of cases in China has now risen to 3 117, and the number of deaths has risen from 131 to 140
(59 of them in Beijing).

The antibiotics used to combat the most serious form of the infection have proved ineffective and as yet
there are no antiviral drugs (it will allegedly take at least a year to develop any).

The Member States have taken action to tighten up preventive measures. In Italy, for example, not only
will people arriving from countries at risk have to fill in a form at all airports, they will also be interviewed
by doctors accompanied by interpreters.

Can the Commission say whether:

1.

2.

3.

it intends to take prompt action aimed at coordinating European-wide measures to prevent, control
and monitor the disease;

it will propose the creation of a European centre to combat disease, as Commissioner Byrne
recommended when addressing the European Parliament on 7 April 2003;

it considers it appropriate to coordinate the increasingly rigorous checks to be carried out by the
airlines flying to EU airports from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Canada (for example,
measuring the temperature of passengers when they leave the areas at risk and when they arrive in
Europe, with the possibility of quarantine for suspected cases) and urge countries outside the EU to
carry out the same checks?

(2003/C 280 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1613/03

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

(13 May 2003)

On 28 April 2003 the World Health Organisation stated that there were 32 reported probable cases of
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in EU Member States.

Should the Commission consider the measures taken by a Member State to be inadequate, would the
Commission consider implementing a coordinated EU response?