Newsletter April 2009

Welcome to the April 2009 Newsletter

Towards the end of April all eyes were on Mexico where it was reported that an influenza outbreak had the potential to ignite a pandemic. With the global capacity for a swift and efficient reaction to the health threat under scrutiny, attention in Brussels has focussed on Europe’s role in minimising the severity of the outbreak and its ability to respond to such a health threat in a united and coordinated manner.

Whilst the severity of the outbreak is yet to become clear, the global health community considers the threat to be a matter of serious concern. Nevertheless, such outbreak of animal related influenza is not unprecedented and the European Commission and Member States have been working together successfully for a number of years in order to minimise the potential impact of a flu pandemic on the EU population.

Surveillance systems, containment measures, sharing of information and collaboration all play a large role in successful preparation. Public health agencies in Europe are confident that their capacity to respond is adequate if and when the threat becomes immediate. We have never been as prepared for a threat of this kind as we are today.

Europe’s biggest strength in such a situation as we are presented with today is our rapid-response mechanisms, joint work and cross-border collaboration to mitigate the impact of a health emergency. Action will of course be taken at Member State level but there is a strong argument for action at European level. The EU plays a vital role when the impact of a health threat transcends the boundaries of individual countries. Solidarity between Member States is a key responsibility of the European Union to ensure that all regions and communities have the capacities needed to react swiftly and effectively.

In our increasingly globalised world, health threats can develop with alarming speed. There is therefore a great need for joint approaches and strategies to react to both natural and human disasters. As the influenza outbreak develops further and more details are gathered, a clearer picture of the implications for the European population will emerge.

In the meantime, this month marks the last plenary session of the current mandate of the European Parliament. Election campaigning now begins for the 736 seats for the 2009-2014 mandate, culminating in the elections on 4-7 June 2009. A number of NGOs have created manifestos or pledges for MEP candidates to endorse in order to highlight their support for health issues. This is a welcome sign that the new Parliament will feature a fresh intake of MEPs that are ready to champion public health in Europe.

Read all the online articles of our Newsletter for April 2009

EPHA members can find the following new information in the Members Only section:

 Minutes of the EPHA Food and Nutrition Working Group, 2 April 2009

 article 3462

 A strong call for antibiotic stewardship

 Patients’ Rights Directive Reports

Please note that if an EPHA member would like to highlight their activities in the EPHA Newsletter, the deadline to submit a news item is Friday 15 May 2009. Please send your items to the EPHA Secretariat