Brussels, 19/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - The public health authorities have a core role to play in the fight against bioterrorism. The EU 15 Health Ministers unanimously recognised, last week in Brussels, when subscribing to the guidelines submitted by the Council Presidency to steer the Union's action in the matter (see EUROPE of 16 November, p.7). The Union's greater response capability towards bioterrorist threats passes, according to them, by more effective cooperation and co-ordination between the Member States and the establishment of a global cooperation programme between the Commission and the Member States to co-ordinate and amplify the initiatives underway in the field of health and civil protection in view of effectively responding to threats and reassuring citizens.
Below are the main areas for intervention identified by the Ministers in their sphere of competence: - establishment of a consultation mechanism in case of a crisis linked to the risk of bioterrorism and the development of a capability for the deployment of joint clinical investigation teams to identify the infectious agents; - creation of information mechanisms on the capabilities of European laboratories in terms of prevention and the fight against bioterrorism and on serum resources, vaccines and antibiotics, as well as joint strategies in terms of the development and use of these resources; - establishment of a network of European experts responsible, in the Member States, for the assessment, management and information on dangers; encouragement of the development of vaccines, medicines and technical means.
The EU 15 Health Ministers hope that the Commission bases itself on this outline to prepare its global Communication on the fight against bioterrorism, expected for November 28.