Sally Furniss
Well-known member
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU governments should each appoint a "bird flu tsar" to make sure they could cope with a flu pandemic and put preparations on a par with countries like the United States, a top EU official said on Tuesday.
If the European Union was to deal effectively with a major flu outbreak, it would also have to look harder at immediate practical measures to be taken in each of the bloc's 25 countries, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Part of the problem was that EU's decision-making was too complicated because so many countries were involved in planning.
"The basic problem is that they (United States) now have one plan and we have 25," the official said.
"Belgium has one of these tsars and he has the authority to make decisions on the spot: difficult decisions which could save lives, if acted upon quickly," he added. The Belgian role is filled by a health expert rather than a government minister.
The United Nations last year appointed Dr. David Nabarro to head its worldwide drive to contain bird flu.
Since 2003, bird flu has caused the deaths of at least 115 people worldwide. Experts fear that with every case, the lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus might mutate and spark a global flu pandemic capable of killing millions.
In terms of getting ready to cope with a flu pandemic, the EU was "still learning", he said, adding that the U.S. experience of recent disasters such as Hurricane Katrina had also helped then to become better prepared.
"In policy, we are on the same level and well advanced in Europe. But the more we prepare and plan, the more find we are unprepared," the official said, adding that countries should also look at everyday practicalities such as whether cinemas and airports should be closed in the event of a flu pandemic.
"There are not enough nurses, doctors, intensive care units, respirators. But these are things which ultimately come from the member states," he said.
The virus has spread to wild birds and poultry in a number of EU states, but the bloc has not reported any human cases.
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsA...Z_01_L16747439_RTRUKOC_0_US-BIRDFLU-TSARS.xml
If the European Union was to deal effectively with a major flu outbreak, it would also have to look harder at immediate practical measures to be taken in each of the bloc's 25 countries, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Part of the problem was that EU's decision-making was too complicated because so many countries were involved in planning.
"The basic problem is that they (United States) now have one plan and we have 25," the official said.
"Belgium has one of these tsars and he has the authority to make decisions on the spot: difficult decisions which could save lives, if acted upon quickly," he added. The Belgian role is filled by a health expert rather than a government minister.
The United Nations last year appointed Dr. David Nabarro to head its worldwide drive to contain bird flu.
Since 2003, bird flu has caused the deaths of at least 115 people worldwide. Experts fear that with every case, the lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus might mutate and spark a global flu pandemic capable of killing millions.
In terms of getting ready to cope with a flu pandemic, the EU was "still learning", he said, adding that the U.S. experience of recent disasters such as Hurricane Katrina had also helped then to become better prepared.
"In policy, we are on the same level and well advanced in Europe. But the more we prepare and plan, the more find we are unprepared," the official said, adding that countries should also look at everyday practicalities such as whether cinemas and airports should be closed in the event of a flu pandemic.
"There are not enough nurses, doctors, intensive care units, respirators. But these are things which ultimately come from the member states," he said.
The virus has spread to wild birds and poultry in a number of EU states, but the bloc has not reported any human cases.
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsA...Z_01_L16747439_RTRUKOC_0_US-BIRDFLU-TSARS.xml