Pandemic and Bioterrorism Preparedness in the European Union

1. Pandemic and Bioterrorism Preparedness in the European Union Ffdg gdfgfdfgd 15 February 2008

2. Agenda • Terms Of Reference 2. Key Findings 3. Trends • Bio-Surveillance Bioterrorism Preparedness • Health Care Emergency Response Vaccines And Antivirals Private-Public Sector Planning/Coordination Border Security

3. Terms Of Reference Key Estimative Question • How well prepared and how well integrated are European Union (EU) member states' (plus Norway and Switzerland) bio-surveillance and health care systems to respond to a bioterrorism attack or pandemic over the next three to five years? • What is the level of EU bio-preparedness in comparison to that of the United States?

4. Terms Of Reference Secondary Questions: • What are the trends among EU member states in regards to preparing for a bioterrorism attack and/or pandemic? • How does border security affect the EU's vulnerability to a bioterrorism attack and/or pandemic? • What are the individual roles of the public and private sectors in dealing with bio-preparedness, and which is likely to be most effective in increasing coordination over the next three to five years?

5. Key Findings Strategic Intelligence Implications • Unlikely EU Member States’ Bio-Surveillance And Health Care Systems Are Well-Integrated Or Prepared For Pandemic Or Bioterrorism At International Level • European Center For Disease Control (ECDC) Highly Likely To Play Key Role Integrating EU Member States’, Plus Norway And Switzerland, Bio-Surveillance Systems Over The Next Three To Five Years • TESSy Likely Operational In 2008; Likely To Standardize Data Collection On Infectious Disease Surveillance • Unlikely EU Member States Integrated All Recommendations From The European Commission’s EU Generic Preparedness Plan • Individual EU Member States’ Highly Like To Continue Improving Bio-Preparedness Over The Next Three To Five Years • EU Unlikely To Achieve Complete Bio-Preparedness

6. Bio-Surveillance Trends • ECDC: TESSy 2008 • European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS) • Program of Cooperation on Preparedness and Response to Biological and Chemical Agency Attacks (RAS-BICHAT) • Medical Intelligence System (MEDISYS)

7. Health Care Trends • Preparedness In Western Versus Eastern Member States • Health Personnel And Facilities • Permanent And Mobile Infectious Disease Isolation Units

8. Vaccine and Antiviral Trends • Antiviral Drugs And Vaccines • Influenza Vaccination Coverage • European Vaccine Production Capacity • Smallpox Vaccine Stockpiles

9. Planning/Coordination Trends • Pandemic Plans In Uniform Language And Electronically Accessible • ECDC A Driving Force • Strategic Exercises And Conferences

10. Bioterrorism Preparedness Trends • EU Member States Likely Lack Bioterrorism Strategies • EU Bioterrorism Task Force • Category A Versus Category B Bio-Agent Preparedness • Likely A Hyper-Focus On Smallpox Preparedness

11. Emergency Response Trends • European Council Community Mechanism • European Civil Protection Force/Europe Aid

12. Private Versus Public Sector • EuropaBio • European Bio-Defense Taskforce • US Compared To Europe Bio-Preparedness • EURespond

13. Border Security • Schengen Border Zone • Counterfeit EU ID And Passport

14. Thank You! Mercyhurst European Bio-Preparedness Team email: nzuloa98@mercyhurst.edu Questions/Comments?