Brussels, 18/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - The debate at the European Parliament with the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding the Zika virus was due to take place on Wednesday 17 February but was ultimately limited to a brief quantitative presentation by the WHO.
MEPs at the Environment and Public Health Committee did not have the time to put questions to the WHO representative to the EU, due to the heated debate and vote on veterinary medicines just before. Consequently, Dr Roberto Bertollini simply highlighted the fact that “the risks of contamination are for the time being low in Europe due to the climate but could increase in the spring or summer”. The first case of the virus has, however, been registered in Russia and a second in China.
The Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes species of mosquito and is suspected of leading to microcephaly in babies and causing Guillain-Barré syndrome.
The Environment Committee is expected to reach an agreement next week on an oral question: for emergency measures to prevent the Zika virus spreading in Europe. There will also be a debate on this question and the adoption of a resolution during the April plenary session. The EPP group is calling for a European action plan to fight the spread of the virus in Europe and help countries tackle the epidemic. It is also calling on the Commission and member states to step up their preparedness by way of a rapid detection of cases of Zika coming into the EU.
It should be pointed out that the WHO published an appeal for US $56 million in funding for its operations and those of its partners for the January to June period.
On Wednesday, Inovio Pharmaceuticals announced the launch of trials being carried out on humans before the end of year. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)