Brussels, 16/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - Most member states decided, by common consent, to make sure of the effectiveness of the checks put in place in the airports of the three countries where the Ebola epidemic is raging, announced Health Commissioner Tonio Borg and Italian Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin, following the high-level meeting on the Ebola epidemic in Brussels on Thursday 16 October. This is to ensure better traceability of possible virus carriers in the European Union. “I believe it is important that we remain vigilant and consider all the means of preparedness to secure the health and safety of our citizens. (…) This is not an extraordinary Council meeting; and we are not here to formally agree or adopt any conclusions. We are here to discuss possible options to address a very important issue”, stated Borg, addressing the member states at the start of the meeting.
Twenty one member states attended the meeting called by the commissioner and the Italian Presidency on Friday of last week to discuss, in particular, the need to enhance coordination of the control measures taken at the entry points into the member states. It is a matter for the individual states to determine whether border controls are necessary, but it is crucial that efforts are coordinated and that the Commission is there to help states cooperate better, Borg stressed.
“There's a commitment to coordinate better the national measures but the decision of whether to introduce those screenings (on entry to the country) remains of sovereignty. Neither the Commission nor the majority of the member states can impose this but we agree to coordinate in the shortest of delays” said the commissioner. “It's essential to intensify the coordination to develop prevention measures”, added Lorenzin.
Opinions may be divided on the need for border checks, such as the United Kingdom and, more recently, France have imposed, but the member states have agreed to check the effectiveness of control measures at the points of departure from the countries affected - Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone - and to strengthen these measures, if necessary. An audit will be conducted, in cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Commissioner Borg said. Strengthening checks on leaving the country and ensuring that the information gathered from passengers is shared are ways to “keep track of the movements” of those travelling from the epicentre of the epidemic, stated Lorenzin. An expert workshop will be held in Brussels on 4 November, to determine whether any alterations are needed in hospital procedures for those affected by the virus, Borg announced. This follows on from an error in the procedures in the Madrid hospital which led to a nurse contracting the illness.
The meeting also allowed agreement to be reached on improving information, to both passengers and medical staff, on what is to be done if contamination is suspected. “We have to reinforce awareness at the entry points” and, to do this, train airport and cabin staff so that they know how to respond if a passenger presents symptoms that give cause for concern or asks for help, the commissioner stated. He again affirmed that the risk of contagion in Europe is “very low”, despite the one confirmed case in Spain, but that other cases may arise in the European Union - zero risk does not exist. “What is really important, too, is to give a message of reassurance to the citizens” on the level of preparedness of health systems and the resources we have to deal with the appearance of Ebola in Europe, added the Italian minister.
On the issue of evacuation of European medical staff in the event of their being contaminated in Africa, Borg confirmed that the Commission is in contact with the United States on making use of American military aircraft. “Mrs Georgieva and ECHO are working hard in this area. … Those working in West Africa need the assurance to be evacuated”, he said.
The Commission will also determine whether the recently instituted European joint purchasing arrangements could be used for the purchase of the protective medical equipment needed (gloves, overalls, masks, etc.) (IL)