Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009 has continued to spread around the world. The Presidency followed the development and worked closely with all relevant sectors.

Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009

The genetic composition of the A (H1N1) virus has differed significantly from previous influenza viruses. As no one has been exposed to this virus variant before, many people have been infected and there has been a great risk that many more would be infected, far more than in the annual influenza epidemics.

The course of the illness has been virtually the same as for annual influenza, with a sudden rise in temperature, respiratory problems and in some cases diarrhoea. The illness usually lasts for about a week, with relatively mild symptoms. It was thought that the influenza could cause a considerable strain on the health care sector. This has been the case in some countries, e.g. in the southern hemisphere. So far, the influenza has not caused any major disturbances in sectors other than health care. Three different vaccines against the influenza were approved for the EU market in October. Several countries started to vaccinate in October/November. Vaccination strategies fell under Member State competence and were therefore carried out according to national plans.
 

Spread around the world

On 11 June the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009 to be a full-scale pandemic. The reason for this was that the influenza was continuing to spread in several parts of the world and it was thought that it could very well spread to more areas. A pandemic means that an infectious disease is spreading on at least two continents and is affecting a large proportion of the population in several countries. However, it does not mean that the illness as such has become more severe. During October and November, the number of infected persons increased considerably. All 27 EU Member States and four EFTA countries reported cases of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009. In November, the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) stated that, on the basis of experiences from the southern hemisphere, the conclusion was that up to 20 per cent of the population might be affected by the influenza.  
 

EU cooperation to create preparedness for the influenza

Under the guidance of WHO, the EU countries worked together to create preparedness for Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009. The European Commission presented a Communication on Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009 in September. On 12 October the health ministers met to discuss the influenza at an extra meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO). At this meeting, the ministers adopted conclusions on a strategic approach to Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009. The strategy included the following topics:

• Availability of vaccines
• Vaccination strategy
• The regulatory process for vaccines
• Information and communication to the public
• Global cooperation
• Multisectoral issues – pandemic preparedness outside the health care sector

In the Council structure, the conclusions and other influenza-related matters were discussed in the Friends of the Presidency Group on pandemic preparedness (FOPG).The FOPG continued to meet during the Swedish Presidency. The agenda included regular updates on the pandemic situation and continued discussions on issues such as multisectoral preparedness and global cooperation in connection to the pandemic.

During the Swedish Presidency the EU countries also discussed preparedness for pandemic influenza at the expert meeting ‘Influenza preparedness and response – lessons learned and next steps’ on 2–3 July and at the informal meeting of the EPSCO Council on 6–7 July. You can find information about these meetings via the links under the heading ‘Related news and meetings’. 
 

Responsibility for preparedness in the EU

The main EU bodies involved in preparing for the influenza pandemic were:

• the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO), composed of EU health ministers;
• the Council Working Party on Public Health;
• the Council Working Group ‘Friends of the Presidency Group on pandemic preparedness’;
• the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO);
• the Health Security Committee;
• the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC); and
• the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

Since the influenza has affected many sectors of society, several Council constellations and Directorates-General under the Commission have been involved. The Friends of the Presidency Group has facilitated management of cross-sectoral issues.

The Spanish Presidency will continue the work regarding questions related to the influenza.