In response to the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the EU is contributing humanitarian aid, expertise, international coordination and longer-term development assistance.
Background
The current Ebola outbreak is affecting the West Africa region: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. It is the worst outbreak of the epidemic ever on record.
The situation continues to deteriorate rapidly with a rising number of cases and deaths. (For the latest situation reportpdf, please visit the World Health Organisation (WHO) website or the Factsheet on Ebolapdf Choose translations of the previous link .) The risks affecting the economies as well as the public order of the countries concerned. The Ebola outbreak also creates secondary humanitarian needs, such as food, clean water and sanitation.
The WHO has declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, calling for a coordinated international response. Less severe outbreaks in Nigeria and Senegal have for now been contained.
The European Commission and EU Member States are closely collaborating within the Health Security Committee (HSC) to manage the latest developments and to coordinate approaches on prevention and preparedness for Ebola.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are producing risk assessments, epidemiological updates, advice to travellers and other information about the emergency.
The EU's response
The European Union and its Member States have now pledged more than €1 billion in response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. This means the Union has already gone beyond the target set by the European Council meeting on 23-24 Octoberpdf for €1 billion in assistance to stem the epidemic.
In addition, humanitarian experts and specialists have been deployed and vital equipment has been provided, including air transport for goods and personnel through the civil protection mechanism. The EU will fund and coordinate, if necessary, the medical evacuation of international staff from the region. The EU guarantees appropriate care for international health workers, should they become infected.
The European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) has been monitoring developments since the outbreak was notified in March 2014. An EU Ebola Task Force has been established, bringing together all Commission services and the European External Action Service (EEAS), including EU Delegations in the affected countries.
The Task Force meets daily at operational level in the ERCC, which serves as a platform for coordination of the European response. Member States and other concerned parties such as International Organizations and NGOs participate. The Task Force liaises constantly with UNMEER (United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response), WHO and other key partners.
On 16 October, a high-level meeting took place in Brussels between the EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg and health ministers from Member States to discuss Ebola and it was agreed to step up efforts and reinforce EU countries' preparedness and response.
During the European Council meeting on 23-24 October the EU has appointed incoming Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides as EU Ebola coordinatorpdf. The coordinator role was first announced by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on the EU foreign ministers meeting on 20 October to ensure the most effective engagement between the European Union, member states and the UN.
The European External Action Service is currently assessing the situation as well as its wider implications to identify the requirements and actions needed to confront this major challenge for the affected countries.
Furthermore, the EEAS is conducting practical planning with a view to deliver swiftly any additional actions which may be required to enhance the collective EU response and support the existing efforts by EU Member States.
EU assistance and expertise on the ground
EU efforts to help the countries of West Africa fight the Ebola virus, as of October 16, 2014. Source: consilium.europa.eu
The EU has reacted to the Ebola epidemic from its onset. To address some of the most urgent humanitarian needs the EU provided EUR 11.9 million through its partners on the ground. A EUR 140 million package followed to bolster health and public services of the affected countries.
A further EUR 30 million aid funding was announced by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso on 25 September. This funding has been channeled through several partner organisations including WHO, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC).
Humanitarian experts and hazardous diseases specialists are deployed in the affected region to report on the situation and liaise with partners and the authorities. EU funded mobile laboratories (EMlab) are also operating on the ground, providing diagnostic support and analysing blood samples.
The Delegations of the European Union, through diplomatic outreach and other channels, facilitate the humanitarian response in the countries concerned, to sensitize governments on appropriate and measured responses to the crisis with regard to travel restrictions, trade impediments, etc.
Is Ebola a public health risk for the EU?
Europe is not exempt from the public health risk posed by Ebola. However, the risk of Ebola spreading widely in the EU population is still considered low. Although the Ebola virus is highly contagious, its spread is limited to very specific conditions involving close contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or corpse.
In addition, Europe has very high standards of infection control procedures in Europe.
Despite the low risk, the EU needs to be prepared for the possibility of a traveller with the Ebola virus returning to the EU and for further secondary cases in Europe.
On 20 October, EU foreign ministers called for an audit and a reinforcement of the travellers' screening systems set-up at the exit point of affected countries.
They also stressed the importance to better coordinate national measures already taken by EU member states at entry points. Member states should use visa information systems and transport carriers' information to anticipate the potential arrivals of disease infection.
It is important that prevention measures are implemented, including informing and sensitising returning travellers and healthcare providers and ensuring that European health systems are prepared for the diagnosis and treatment of Ebola should the need arise. Citizens also need to be objectively informed of the measures taken to protect them from a potential contamination.
Source: European Commision
