EU steps up action on novel flu virus, 19 cases so far

The European Commission is leading member states' coordination efforts to exchange information on surveillance, case definition and measures taken by EU countries to respond to this novel flu virus. The Commission said in an announcement that “the situation is changing rapidly and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is monitoring the situations on a continuous basis.”
The Commission holds daily audio meetings with the EU's Health Security Committee and national contact points of the Early Warning Rapid Alert System (EWRS) with the aim of adopting a common guidance document on managing the novel flu virus. This will include information on the case definition, advice to travellers and management of cases. Earlier this week health Commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou called for an extraordinary meeting of health ministers in Luxembourg Thursday. The meeting will discuss further common approaches to tackling the novel flu virus including countermeasures such as anti-virals and vaccines.
"We have learned valuable lessons from past experiences with SARS and avian influenza. Not only are surveillance systems more robust today but we have also developed stronger collaboration mechanisms both at EU level and with our partners around the world,” said Health Commissioner Vassiliou said.
“I am convinced that we are in a better position today to protect the health of EU citizens from health threats such as this novel flu virus," she added.
The Commission raised its level of alert to ' red' on April 27 by launching its Health Emergency Operating Facility (HEOF). WHO declared level 5 on Wednesday. Daily information exchange with the MS contact points continues and outcomes of the meetings are available on the SANCO website. In addition, there are regular audio meetings with the members of the Global Health Security Initiative (G7 countries, Mexico, WHO and European Commission). Commissioner Vassiliou briefed EU foreign ministers on April 26 and will discuss a common EU approach at the extraordinary health council Thursday. She also met with the pharmaceutical and vaccine industry in order to be briefed on the current state of play regarding antiviral and vaccines.
Commissioner Vassiliou met on Wednesday with pharmaceutical industry representatives, in particular with the European Vaccine Manufacturers, to address key questions on vaccines and antivirals against the novel flu virus. The European Commission will continue to work with the industry, which is committed to contributing to the efforts in the face of novel flu virus.
The situation is evolving quickly with 19 confirmed cases in the EU (10 in Spain, 5 in UK and 3 in Germany and 1 in Austria) as of 08h00 on April 30. All EU confirmed cases have a history travel to Mexico, except for one case in Spain where there is evidence of transmission within the household. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is continuously monitoring the situation and providing daily epidemiological updates on its website.
The novel influenza virus (human swine influenza A(H1N1) has been found to contain genes from pig, bird and human influenza viruses, in a combination that has never been observed before anywhere in the world
People become infected with novel influenza virus A(H1N1) in the same way as with the normal seasonal influenza. It spreads from person to person via droplets from an infected person who is coughing and sneezing. Symptoms of novel influenza A(H1N1) in humans are usually similar to regular human seasonal influenza symptoms, involving fever of sudden onset and respiratory symptoms; diarrhoea might also occur. Severe complications can occur even in normally healthy persons who become infected with the virus. The virus is sensitive to some of the available antiviral drugs.
The Health Emergency Operations Facility (HEOF) is a part of the Commission's public health emergency management structure, coordinated by the Senior Management Team. The main objective is to provide the Commission and member states with an overview of the situation and to ensure effective coordination between the Commission, member states, other associated countries (candidate countries, EEA countries), agencies such as the ECDC, European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) and European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA), and international organisations (such as the WHO) during an emergency situation.