WORLD HEALTH COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATES

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

WHCA has recently been assisting ECDC on the organisation of two workshops in Stockholm: Scientific Group Consultation Workshop (27-28 February) and Infectious Diseases and Environmental Change (29-30 March) 2007.

The first meeting convened European scientific and advocacy associations to serve in a consultation capacity to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). It is envisioned that the Scientific Consultation Group will help ECDC fulfil its mission by providing a source of ongoing intelligence and experience that can help identify, shape, implement and monitor public health in Europe. Drawing its membership primarily from Europe’s vast array of professional and scientific associations/agencies, the Scientific Consultation Group will serve to enhance ECDC’s current linkages with Ministries of Health and relevant academic, research and response agencies. This first meeting introduced ECDC and its functional units to the Scientific Consultation Group and explored best ways of working together in the interest of public health. Issues related to networking and mutual cooperation were discussed and roles for the Scientific Consultation Group explored.

The objectives for the second workshop were to assess the implications of climate and ecological changes on the communicable disease burden in Europe and develop strategic policy recommendations for member states. The workshop brought together key scientists, researchers, public health practitioners and advocates with representatives from international organizations, and was held in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the European Environmental Agency (EEA), and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) at Ispra, on the public health consequences of global climate and ecological changes in the context of communicable diseases. It aimed to assess the different manifestations and the extent of environmental changes in Europe. Demographic changes (international travel, global migration, overcrowding, etc) and technology were also considered. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying new or enhanced threats from air, vector, water and food borne communicable diseases. Consequences for public health were then discussed in light of existing disease surveillance and response systems. The goal of the workshop was to develop recommendations for policy guidance which would to strengthen infectious disease detection and control in relation to environmental changes in Europe.

We hope to be able to add a link to the meeting reports on the ECDC website shortly.