Ebola threat to EU is 'low' but readiness needed

Ebola threat to EU is 'low' but readiness needed
Italy's Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin, right, shakes hands with European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy Tonio Borg prior to the start of a press conference during an Informal Meeting of the EU Health Ministers in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

EU health ministers say the chance that the deadly Ebola virus might spread to Europe is "low" but that they must improve coordination and prevention measures just in case.

The ministers ended a two-day meeting in Milan on Tuesday amid concerns in Italy that the virus might spread here thanks to the thousands of Africans who arrive via smugglers' boats every day.

In a statement, Italian Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin said the concluded that the threat was "low" but that "regardless, we must raise our level of preparation to improve our abilities in the fields of identification, transportation, diagnosis and cure of patients or suspected ."

Ministers called for improved public information campaigns and EU-wide coordination, including for possible evacuations of EU citizens from Africa.

Ebola threat to EU is 'low' but readiness needed
European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy Tonio Borg listens reporters' questions during a press conference at an Informal Meeting of the EU Health Ministers in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

© 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Citation: Ebola threat to EU is 'low' but readiness needed (2014, September 23) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-09-ebola-threat-eu-readiness.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Ebola risk in EU 'extremely low': Commission

 shares

Feedback to editors