Brussels, 30/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 30 April, EU27 health ministers meeting in Luxembourg adopted conclusions in which they confirm the need for a coordinated European response to the new human flu caused by the A/H1N1 virus.
In their conclusions, ministers acknowledge the effort made over recent years to ensure preparedness to counter pandemic flu. During the meeting, the director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Suszanna Jakab, said that the EU was the region of the world that was the best prepared, although there is still work to be done. The system for the exchange of information works well and ministers welcome the Commission's help in this field.
The Council stresses that the work of coordination around the WHO, Commission and ECDC will be continued and invites member states to take all appropriate measures, including with regard to travel (compromise found meets with France's satisfaction). The Council also points out that, at this stage, there is no element showing there is a definite link between this illness and the consumption of pigmeat. Health ministers finally invited the Commission and member states to show proof of solidarity towards the countries that are the most affected by the new human flu.
As Doctor Denis Coulombier pointed out at the daily press briefing at the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Stockholm, the main development of the last 24 hours has been the decision of the World Health Organisation that, with human to human transmission confirmed in two countries, we now stand at point five on the six-point scale towards declaration of a pandemic. Level six will be reached when there is confirmation of transmission in one other region.
At 4.00 on Thursday afternoon, there were 23 confirmed cases in five countries of the European Union: Netherlands (1), United Kingdom (5), Spain (13), Germany (3) and Austria (1). There is one likely case in France. Hitherto, only one case of transmission of the virus from one family member to another has been recorded, in Spain, and, overall, European patients have presented only moderate infection.
In Mexico, the number of confirmed cases stands at 26 (with seven deaths). In the United States, 91 cases have been recorded (51% in New York State). When asked on the very large number of young people affected by the virus in the United States, Doctor Angus Nicoll said that this could be explained by the fact that the infection broke out in a school. The other countries with confirmed cases are: Canada (19), New Zealand (1 confirmed case and 13 still under analysis), Costa Rica (2), Israel (2), Switzerland (1) and Peru (1). In response to numerous questions on the seriousness of the pandemic, Doctors Coulombier and Nicoll repeated that the cases identified in Europe presented a mild clinical course that is not exceeding seasonal flu in any way at all. It should be pointed out, however, that every year, flu kills around 40,000 people in Europe. The pathogenic nature of a virus can also increase over time. It is now up to the WHO to assess the risk in order to make the right decision with regard to vaccines. Approximately four months are required to develop a vaccine but produce would mean halting the manufacture of seasonal vaccine batches.
In the context of travel, the WTO has already made the decision not to recommend any restrictions because such a measure would not be very useful in the event of a pandemic. Other measures such as airport screening are not very efficient because an infected person may not display symptoms when crossing a border and only become ill several days later. The main prevention measures are the same as those used for seasonal flu; regular hand washing and staying at home if one becomes feverish. In the event of a particularly severe pandemic, other measures such as the wearing of masks or the provisional closure of non-essential public areas might be recommended. (O.J./trans/jl/rt/rh)