A new EU agency for combating epidemics was inaugurated last week in Stockholm. The “European Centre for the Control and Prevention of Disease” will have the task of monitoring the health situation throughout the continent, combating the risk of epidemics, as well as improving co-operation with other countries and with international organisations. “Epidemics such as SARS in 2003 and bird flu this year were alarm bells”, said David Byrne, European commissioner for health and consumer protection, “this new agency will enable Europe to be better prepared for any epidemic the twenty-first century may have in store”.
