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Sars: EU wants anti-disease centre
07/04/2003 22:38 - (SA)
Strasbourg - The European Commission called on Monday for the creation of a US-style disease control centre as it took a sideswipe at China over the spread of a deadly pneumonia virus.
As severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) claimed its 100th victim worldwide, European health commissioner David Byrne reiterated calls for a European facility modelled along the lines of the Atlanta-based US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
He said the European Union's executive arm was working closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to prevent the spread in Europe of Sars.
But Brussels was now "at its very limit" in co-ordinating the EU response, the Irish commissioner told the European Parliament in Strasbourg, according to the text of his prepared remarks.
"In my view, the most effective way to strengthen community (EU) activities is to set up a European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control," Byrne said, proposing to establish such a centre by 2005.
"The centre will enhance surveillance. It would co-ordinate and facilitate common responses - and collaborate with member states, third countries and international organisations, in particular the WHO," he said. Won't replace existing national capacity
"It would not replace existing national capacity, but rather hook them up to act as a reference and coordination point both in routine and crisis situations.
"This will also play an important role in an enlarged Europe," Byrne added, looking ahead to the 15-nation EU's expansion next year to include 10 more members - poorer countries drawn mostly from the former Soviet bloc.
The commissioner also echoed criticism of China from WHO Director General Gro Harlem Brundtland. China detected its first Sars case in November, but failed to inform the UN health body until February.
"Obviously, earlier notifications by those affected to the WHO could have mitigated many of the effects," Byrne said. "This is a key lesson for the future."
Sars is believed to have begun in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong in November, spread to Hong Kong in February and from there around the world via airline travel.
- AFX
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