More cash urged for flight syndrome

Date: 18/04/02

By Laurence Frost

AIRLINES are calling on the EU to push the US and Australia to help finance an international study of the link between long-haul flying and deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) - also known as 'economy-class syndrome'.

The €13 million scientific probe into the condition has remained grounded by lack of funding since it was announced over a year ago by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

'The Commission should pressure the US and Australia to take on part of the funding,' said Hanna Tiainen of the Association of European Airlines (AEA).

Tiainen said the information provided by the study was urgently needed to calm fears about the syndrome fuelled by reports of deaths caused by fatal blood clots in passengers after long-haul flights.

The call came as the EU executive confirmed it had allocated around €1 million to the project, which has so far raised just over half of the €4.5 million needed for the first of its two phases.

Gilles Gantelet, spokesman for transport chief Loyola de Palacio, said the Commission could do little to lobby other governments, but said that representations might nevertheless be made.

'We will do our best to speak with our US and Australian partners to secure funding to make this study a reality,' he said.

De Palacio said recently she 'takes very seriously' the possible link between air travel and DVT, in response to concerns raised by two MEPs.

The British and Belgian deputies Jillian Evans and Bart Staes want more EU-backed research into the formation of blood clots after long flights, which they say has claimed at least 30 victims in Europe over three years.

A WHO official said funding pledges had so far been received from the Commission and from the UK only, as the deadline looms next week for a decision on the scope of the study.

'We're still waiting to hear from Australia and the US,' the spokeswoman said.

Australia's opposition health spokesman recently slammed the government's decision not to fund the international project, opting for its own cheaper study instead. 'DVT is a very important issue for Australians because we fly so far and so often,' Stephen Smith said.

In the first phase, WHO scientists would conduct lab tests and monitor the incidence of DVT among frequent flyers. A subsequent, more costly, phase would involve detailed medical examinations of thousands of long-haul passengers at airports, before and after their flights.

Airlines are calling on the EU to push the US and Australia to help finance an international study of the link between long-haul flying and deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), also known as 'economy-class syndrome'.