| Series Title | European Voice |
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| Series Details | Vol.9, No.28, 24.7.03, p4 |
| Publication Date | 24/07/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date:24/07/03 HEALTH Commissioner David Byrne yesterday (23 July) announced plans to set up a European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to speed up and coordinate the EU's response to epidemics. He cautioned that the recent SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak has highlighted European weaknesses in responding to sudden public health threats. "SARS was a wake-up call to Europe and to the whole world," he said. "It demonstrated that in the modern world infectious diseases can travel across the globe in a matter of days or, indeed, even hours." Member states, however, during negotiations on a draft EU constitution, quashed Commission plans to secure new powers to tackle epidemics. But Byrne has indicated he has not given up on these proposals. "Communicable diseases do not respect national borders and despite the EU's internal market and the Schengen agreement, when it comes to public health we find ourselves using 19th-century instruments to deal with 21st-century threats," he said. The new centre, due to become an independent agency in 2005, is expected to grow from a staff of about 40 to 100 by 2007, with an initial budget of €3.7 million, rising to €8.5 million by then. It will not be able to launch public health measures such as travel bans or quarantines. |
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| Subject Categories | Health |
