Avian Flu

Release of ESWI Flu documentary

EPHA member the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI) has released an influenza documentary that covers all aspects of the disease, ranging from the characteristics of the flu virus itself to the impact of pandemic and epidemic influenza. The result is a highly attractive and informative influenza movie (38 min of length), which can be accessed free of charge in ESWI’s media library at the following address www.flucentre.org/media-library/ (title: Influenza - aiming (...)

Council of the European Union recommendation on seasonal influenza vaccination

On 22 December 2009, the Council of the European Union adopted a recommendation encouraging member states to implement action plans to improve seasonal influenza vaccination coverage. **Update Council of the European Union adopts recommendation on seasonal influenza vaccination** The Council of the EU calls for "concerted action" at the EU level of the in order to minimize the impact of seasonal influenza by encouraging vaccination among risk groups and healthcare workers. The main (...)

A(H1N1)v (Swine) Influenza - Frequently Asked Questions

The A(H1N1)v influenza pandemic is an issue of global concern and constitutes the largest threat to public health seen in recent years. Here, EPHA presents here a few Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). What is the Current Situation? The current figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) as of August 25, 2009: In the EU and EFTA Countries: 43 245 cases including 93 deaths Outside EU and EFTA countries: 211 702 cases including 2501 deaths Bringing the (...)

European Commission Proposal for a Council Recommendation on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

On 13 July 2009, the European Commission released a Proposal for a Council Recommendation on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination. Since the start of the ’Europe for Patients’ campaign in the second half of 2008, this item has been on the agenda, and in light of the recent Pandemic, it has become a much higher priority. The release of the proposed Recommendation on 13 July 2009, has no doubt been brought forward as a result of the current pandemic of A/H1N1 Influenza. The proposed (...)

**Update**Novel Influenza A/H1N1 (Swine Flu) Pandemic

According to figures released by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2005 and February 2009 a total of 12 cases of Swine Influenza were reported across 10 states in the US. However in recent weeks, thousands of cases have been confirmed and the world is bracing itself for an imminent pandemic. Margaret Chan (WHO, Director General) has raised the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to 6 classifying the current outbreak as the first pandemic for 41 (...)

How prepared are we? Novel Influenza A/H1N1 continues to spread...

Avian Flu, SARS, H1N1, with each outbreak of influenza, the world jumps. Every outbreak of a novel influenza virus represents a serious threat to human health and every one of them threatens that terrifying word- pandemic. One such pandemic in 1918, Spanish Flu, wiped out 25 million people worldwide, killing more people than the First World War that ravaged the world for the four preceding years. Since then nations across the world have been seeking to strengthen and reinforce their (...)

**Avian Influenza - Update January 2008**

**Latest Update 21/01/2008.** It aims to focus on developments at international level. Animal Avian Influenza is now in Europe - Increase of HUMAN cases in Indonesia Poultry in Turkey and Romania have been hit by cases of Avian Influenza. Croatia also confirms a case of H5N1 in wild birds. Hence the decision from the European Commission to suspend imports of birds, feathers, poultry meat and avian species from Romania and Turkey. Both countries have quarantined the affected zones and (...)

Animal Avian Influenza: new cases in Europe in June and July 2007

After the H5N1 was detected in the Czech Republic on 21 June 2007, as of the 4 July 2007, it has been confirmed that the virus is in Germany as well as in France. At the same time an other case has been suspected in Austria. In the Czech Republic the virus was detected following the death of around 1800 birds on two poultry farms in the centre of the country. In Germany, the disease was confirmed to be in Thuringia, near Saxony, in a black-necked grebe, after a case, two weeks previous, (...)

World Health Report focuses on Health dimension of Security

The annual World Health Report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for 2007 addresses the health threats to global security. This year’s World health report, entitled "A safer future: global public health security in the 21st century", was published on 23 August 2007. Its message is that more than at any time in history global public health security depends on international cooperation and the willingness of all countries to act effectively in tackling new and emerging threats. (...)

EPHA Briefing note on the International Health Regulations

In our increasingly interconnected world international travel is more common for more people and over longer distances, leading to greater concerns over the threats posed by infectious disease outbreaks. There has long been recognition of the need to put in-place a systematic approach for authorities to respond to such in the form of agreements on international cooperation on infectious diseases. These agreements have evolved from being rather straightforward and covering a limited number (...)