Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-11-30-Speech-3-162"
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"en.20051130.15.3-162"2
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".
Mr President, I wish to join my colleagues not only in thanking not just the rapporteur for his work but also the Commissioner for the action he has taken so far with regard to this perceived threat. I say ‘perceived’ threat because some of the headlines in the media over the last six to seven months suggest that the end of the world is imminent and there is no escape from the dangers and the risks presented by the spread of avian flu.
However, when you look more closely at the scientific and empirical data available on bird flu, you see certain trends emerging. First, it does not seem to have as great or as damaging an impact on wild birds as it does on domesticated or commercial flocks. Second, the only cases of human transmission of bird flu have been where people were in close contact with commercial flocks. Third, and most important, there is still no known case of transmission from human being to human being.
As important as it may be for us to be prudent, prepared and aware of any dangers or risks that may present themselves, it is equally wrong of us to be scaremongering as regards any immediate threat and the dangers it presents. To put this into context, more people will die in the European Union from the effects of a strain of TB that is drug-resistant than will be affected by avian flu. On a global scale, more people – especially children – die every day from the effects of malaria than have been killed so far by avian influenza. We must look at these figures and put them into context, and it is important for our response to be reasoned and proportionate to the risks and dangers that actually exist.
It is wonderful that the scientific committees on public health and animal health are meeting on a regular basis to update one other and exchange information on the outbreaks that have occurred close to the European Union’s borders. In addition to cooperating with the World Health Organisation, we can put in place preparatory plans for dealing with any potential outbreaks.
As we have seen with the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, Newcastle disease and other animal diseases, a policy aimed at slaughtering animals is the only sure way of killing off the disease. Horrific as that may seem in a world where so many millions of people are starving because of a lack of food, in the longer term it would appear to be a better and more proportionate response. This is because, although there has been talk of vaccines and preparations for vaccines, we do not know which vaccine will work. We do not know what the exact result of a vaccine will be on the human body when trying to prevent the spread of avian flu, and will not know until such time as we allow our scientific experts to act and entrust this matter to people who know what they are talking about.
I know some of my colleagues here have doubts or worries concerning the credibility or sincerity of some of the people involved in the pharmaceutical industry. However, at every stage in human health development when there has been a need or a desire to respond to a risk to human health, they have come up with solutions and answers, and we should listen to what they have to say.
Finally, the guidance and leadership that the Commissioner has given on this issue, and the clear thinking and cool logic which has been shown, is a model that other Commissioners would do well to follow when dealing with other public service issues."@en1
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