EU says no Ebola epidemic risk in Europe

BRUSSELS, Oct 16 (KUNA) -- EU health ministers met in Brussels Thursday to coordinate efforts and take measures to prevent the outbreak of Ebola.
Tonio Borg, EU Health Commissioner told a press conference after the meeting that "the EU is doing its part in the Western African countries to help these countries and strengthen their health systems and be able not only to contain the disease today but also diseases in the future which will rise again." "Along with W.H.O. the Commission will immediately undertake an audit of exit screening systems in place in the affected countries, Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone to check their effectiveness and reinforce them as necessary; this was one of the unanimous opinions expressed by member states," he stated.
Borg said all EU member states were of the opinion that we need to reinforce information and awareness campaigns at all entry points of the EU, which information will be addressed to passengers, to airline crew, to all airport staff and first line healthcare workers.
In particular we need to enhance information given to travellers from the affected countries so they know what to do and where to go if symptoms arises, he added.
On her part, Italian health minister Beatrice Lorenzin said " I believe that we can win over Ebola in West Africa, it is our first issues and it is important for Europe to be in West Africa." Italy holds the current EU Presidency. "At the same time it is important to explain to our citizens that we have not a real risk to have an epidemic in Europe but we need to be prepared to have one or two isolated cases but we can fight against Ebola, we have good hospitals, good health systems and good doctors to treat our citizens," she added. (end) nk.sd