AlaskaDenise
In Memoriam
By Alex Kuli
Feb. 22 (Bloomberg) -- The European Union is at least two years away from being able to respond effectively to an influenza pandemic, which may be sparked by the H5N1 bird flu virus that recently infected poultry in Hungary, England and Russia.
National governments cannot yet guarantee that pandemic flu vaccine will be available within six months of an outbreak, according to a report released today by the European Center for Disease Control. They also need to ensure that hospitals will be able to deal with increased patient loads, the report said.
The European Commission and national governments began stepping up efforts to prepare for an influenza pandemic following the Asian outbreak of H5N1 in 2003, the report said. H5N1 has killed 167 of the 274 people infected, mostly in southeast Asia, according to the World Health Organization. There have been no recorded cases in Europe, though outbreaks in poultry have forced authorities to slaughter millions of fowl.
``It is a question of `when,' not `if' a pandemic will occur,'' ECDC Director Zsuzsanna Jakab said in the report. ``We will continue with our efforts, together with member states, the commission and the WHO, to strengthen the EU capacities to deal with a potential influenza pandemic.''
National governments must pay special attention to preparedness in the non-health sectors, the report said. For example, governments must ensure that essential services such as power are able to cope with staff absenteeism.
To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Kuli in Budapest at akuli@bloomberg.net .
Last Updated: February 22, 2007 04:34 EST
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aZ_L9k70m5Fk&refer=europe
Feb. 22 (Bloomberg) -- The European Union is at least two years away from being able to respond effectively to an influenza pandemic, which may be sparked by the H5N1 bird flu virus that recently infected poultry in Hungary, England and Russia.
National governments cannot yet guarantee that pandemic flu vaccine will be available within six months of an outbreak, according to a report released today by the European Center for Disease Control. They also need to ensure that hospitals will be able to deal with increased patient loads, the report said.
The European Commission and national governments began stepping up efforts to prepare for an influenza pandemic following the Asian outbreak of H5N1 in 2003, the report said. H5N1 has killed 167 of the 274 people infected, mostly in southeast Asia, according to the World Health Organization. There have been no recorded cases in Europe, though outbreaks in poultry have forced authorities to slaughter millions of fowl.
``It is a question of `when,' not `if' a pandemic will occur,'' ECDC Director Zsuzsanna Jakab said in the report. ``We will continue with our efforts, together with member states, the commission and the WHO, to strengthen the EU capacities to deal with a potential influenza pandemic.''
National governments must pay special attention to preparedness in the non-health sectors, the report said. For example, governments must ensure that essential services such as power are able to cope with staff absenteeism.
To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Kuli in Budapest at akuli@bloomberg.net .
Last Updated: February 22, 2007 04:34 EST
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aZ_L9k70m5Fk&refer=europe