Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-06-13-Speech-2-155"
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"en.20060613.24.2-155"2
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".
Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, influenza is a disease with grave health, social and economic implications; it also has ramifications in the defence sector and politics. H5N1 could mutate and give rise to a new flu virus subtype that would be transmissible from humans to humans and gradually spread, causing an epidemic or pandemic. The avian flu virus is seldom transmitted from birds to humans; however, the WHO has reported 185 cases of this infection and 104 deaths in the period from 2003 to March 2006.
This number of human fatalities should be seen as a reminder that we cannot afford to ignore. Public debate in this area has highlighted new issues, and the Member States have set about establishing pandemic commissions and drawing up pandemic plans coordinated on the European level. The Member States are talking to one another now, because if a flu pandemic breaks out, no single country will be able to cope with it on its own. Interest has increased in antiviral drugs as the first line of defence and intervention. Vaccine manufacturing procedures have been upgraded, and there has been greater interest in speeding up the development, production and deployment of new vaccines.
Ladies and gentlemen, this own-initiative report is based on two communications from the European Commission on this issue. Emphasis has been placed on essential measures and crisis management within 24 hours, including quarantine and travel restrictions. There have been calls to improve coordination between the Commission, Member States and the relevant European agencies. I believe that the key is to stockpile antivirotic drugs and, to the extent possible, speed up the production and distribution of vaccines. The use of these vaccines should be financed from the Solidarity Fund.
Awareness is an absolute prerequisite for responsible decision-making. It is essential that the Members of the European Parliament be regularly informed of scientific developments relevant to medicinal products and vaccines, and of the level of Member State preparedness. We should also not overlook the need for prompt communication with the public and media about the situation and the measures that need to be taken."@en1
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