Weekly releases (1997–2007) - Volume 7, Issue 11, 13 March 2003

Earlier this month, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in several Dutch poultry farms was reported. Extensive control measures to prevent spread to unaffected poultry farms have been implemented (1).

In response to recent developments in southern China, Vietnam, and Hong Kong, the World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated global surveillance of cases with acute respiratory syndrome of unknown etiology (1) and provided the following case definition for hospital based surveillance:

Earlier this month, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI) in several Dutch poultry farms was reported. Extensive control measures to prevent spread to unaffected poultry farms have been implemented. (1)

The European Commission this week published the Work Plan 2003 for the Community action in the field of public health, and a call for proposals to be submitted by 16 May 2003. The available budget for this call is €37 million.

Two major factors that will affect the pattern of infectious diseases in European countries over the coming decade are the intensifying HIV pandemic (1) and the substantial changes in migration from Sub-Saharan Africa (2). Although migrants and asylum seekers tend to have a better health profile than the rest of the population in their country of origin, their prevalence of current HIV infections and past Tuberculosis and hepatitis B infections will pose a challenge to the prevention and health care systems of host countries. Examination of the latest migration statistics illustrates the differential impact that can be expected between the various countries of the EU.