Rapid Responses to:

EDITORIALS:
Lyle R Petersen and Mike Catchpole
Surveillance for infectious diseases in the European Union
BMJ 2001; 323: 818-819 [Full text]
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[Read Rapid Response] European Infectious Disease Surveillance-think big !
Alan Smith   (12 October 2001)

European Infectious Disease Surveillance-think big ! 12 October 2001
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Alan Smith,
SpR Public Health Medicine
Dept. Public Health, North Eastern Health Board, Ireland

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Re: European Infectious Disease Surveillance-think big !

I read with interest you editorial on the future of surveillance of infectious diseases in the European Union.

I agree that unless national institutions in member states receive the necessary political support and long term financial resources then we are unlikely to move from the so often seen, and frequently criticised, reactionary responses to the crises that invariably appear. A long term, systematic,strategic approach is the only way to achieve a successful approach to disease control. To think otherwise is unrealistic.

I don't agree that a “slim” European Centre is the way forward. I worry when I read terms like "small staff" and "little additional permanent physical infrastructure". A European Center should be a central hub with whom national institutions interact in a partnership setting. By all means start small but you've got to plan big. A European Centre has to have the power, the prestige, the expertise and the influence to have any hope of achieving the functions you outlined in your editorial. Can we seriously expect such a centre to operate out of a corner office ? I think not. I also believe that a field epidemiological role, not necessarily an independent one, is crucial to the development of such a center. Not to do so is likely to generate a "what do they know about it" attitude across European member states.

Finally as someone who believes that this is a discipline that needs to be expanded I'm not convinced that there would be a problem in staffing a European Surveillance Centre. On the contrary I feel that if properly funded and given a clear and statutory remit there would be no problem in attracting the brightest and the best. There are some very bright and talented people out there. Why not use them.

Interests: None