Brussels, 28/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - With just two days to go before the extraordinary meeting of the EU Council of ministers for health (EUROPE 9890), Androulla Vassiliou was keen to take stock of measures undertaken by the Union as a response to what she called the “new flu”. She explained that the name “swine flu” was likely to have disastrous consequences on the pigmeat industry. The health commissioner, who pointed out that there were three confirmed cases in Europe (one in Spain, two in the United Kingdom), acknowledged that, due to the number of suspected cases, the situation would probably develop over the course of the next few days . “Nobody should underestimate the situation, but there is no reason to panic either”, she said, saying that the Commission is operating “at a parallel state of alert” (to the WHO). She went on to say: “We have launched our Health Emergency Operations Facility. This involves 24-hour surveillance and contact with member states”. Ms Vassiliou announced that the Commission had called a meeting on Monday of the Global Health Security Initiative (G7 countries and Mexico in this case) after which all countries agreed to strengthen surveillance. She also said that, since last Saturday, the Commission has chaired daily meetings of the EU health security committee and was in permanent contact with national contact points of the EU Early Warning and Response System. The aim is to exchange information on the epidemiological situation as well as on early warning and response system. A common guidance document will ensure a consistent approach to the “new flu” across member states and should be endorsed in the next few days, the commissioner said, adding that the Commission has now called for a meeting with the pharmaceuticals industry to take stock of the antiviral and vaccine situation. (O.L./transl.jl)