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Liz LynneLiberal Democrat MEP for the West Midlands 1999-2012 |
Emergency measures on avian flu needed within 24 hours - Lynne
October 25, 2005 5:19 PM
Liz Lynne West Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP, a member of the ALDE Group in the European Parliament, believes that the European Commission should be authorised to take emergency measures within 24 hours should a flu pandemic reach the EU or bordering states. Liz cautioned that there was no need for panic but that the EU must be prepared.
Speaking in Strasbourg, Liz said,
"There is no health risk just yet. But as soon as there is one, the European Commission has to take immediate action. For example quarantine and disinfection measures at airports for flights from infected regions, or imposition of travel restrictions."
Liz added that lessons should be learned from SARS. The European Commission currently has no mandate to take emergency measures - it is a national competence.
"Member States such as the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands have already taken steps. But this problem is cross-border by nature. We have already seen evidence of the avian influenza virus H5N1 in the United Kingdom. If a flu pandemic outbreak does occur, there will be no time for broad debates to persuade countries that have not done enough, to take the necessary measures after all."
In the emergency debate today of the European Parliament on avian influenza EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou outlined the actions taken so far at a Community level to ensure Member States make ready their preparedness plans.
"We must learn the lessons from our past mistakes eg. BSE and Foot and Mouth disease. This is a clear case of European added value in terms of coordinating precautionary measures and agreeing contingency plans."
The ALDE Group would like to see the EU solidarity fund being used to pay for the development of anti-virals and to start up the development of vaccines.
ENDS.
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