Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-04-12-Speech-2-321"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20050412.30.2-321"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"It has already been pointed out that the flu is a disease with grave health, social and economic implications; it also has ramifications in the defence sector and politics. The greatest danger, however, is posed by various flu pandemics that may break out when a new flu virus subtype emerges that is transferable from one human to another. A flu virus of type A that causes flu not only in humans but also in animals, especially birds, pigs and horses, is the only one capable of giving rise to new virus subtypes. A new human flu virus subtype emerges as a result of recombination in an animal carrier between human and animal strains of flu virus type A. This gives rise to what is known as ‘antigen shift’. As humans are not immune to the new subtype, the disease spreads swiftly, leading to an epidemic, evolving in a matter of several months into a pandemic. Recently the WHO has indicated that we are now closer to a flu pandemic than ever before. The WHO has also urged governments to set up national boards that would deal with a potential flu pandemic and adopt national action plans. To the extent possible, my country, the Slovak Republic, has heeded this call. Vaccines constitute a sensible preventive measure, but they have their limits. As the Commissioner has pointed out, it is necessary to identify the virus, develop a vaccine, produce and market the vaccine, as well as carry out an extensive vaccination campaign. A vaccine is not effective when the disease is at an advanced stage, as it depends on the body to form necessary antibodies. Therefore, one cannot count on a vaccine in dealing with the first wave of a pandemic. At the same time, a vaccine has a short shelf life. Antiviral drugs, by contrast, appear to be an appropriate complement to vaccination since, in addition to prevention, they are also efficacious in treating advanced forms of the disease and seem essential as part of a therapeutic response to a pandemic. As they have a longer shelf life – up to five years – antiviral drugs could be stockpiled in advance. The statement by Commissioner Kyprianou gives me hope that developments will be monitored closely, and that in the best case, no emergency action will be needed."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples